News

Many congratulations to our colleague Dr Michael Byrne, Head of Student Health Department at UCC, who was recently honoured by the School of Medicine UCC as the recipient of the Windle Prize for 2021 /2022. Congratulations also to his daughter Dr Eithne Byrne, who was awarded the Janssen Gold Medal as 'Intern of the Year' at Cork University Hospital. 

A double accolade! Congratulations and well done Dr Michael and Dr Eithne, from all at the Irish Student Health Association. 

HSE-AMRIC have published the HSE antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) guidance for all healthcare settings.

Ireland participated in the European Web survey on drugs (EWSD) for the first time in 2021 with the aim of capturing those who use drugs but may not experience dependency issues, as well as niche user groups such as those consuming psychedelic-type drugs. Read Ireland’s main findings from the 2021 EWSD at: https://drugsandalcohol.ie/36571/

Press Release 4th August 2022

HPSC has now been notified of 97 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ireland. Read the HPSC latest update on monkeypox in Ireland http://bit.ly/3wX6OFw

For each case, Public Health is following up those who had close contact with the case while they were infectious. Public health risk assessments have been undertaken, and those who were in contact with the cases are being advised on what to do in the event that they become ill.

Paxlovid™ received a conditional marketing authorisation throughout the EU in January 2022, and became available for use in Ireland in specific circumstances in April 2022. Full details of the authorisation process for Paxlovid™ are available on the European Medicines Agency website.

Eligibility and prescribing considerations

Department of Health. Published 26 July 2022. Last updated on 27 July 2022.

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly today announced plans to extend the use of the smallpox vaccine for individuals at high risk of monkeypox infection in Ireland. It follows recommendations made on 22 July by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) to the Interim Chief Medical Officer (CMO), who has endorsed these recommendations. NIAC has recommended:

The World Health Organization Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has today, 23/07/2022, declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, the health body’s highest level of alert.  The WHO said the expanding monkeypox outbreak in more than 70 countries is an "extraordinary" situation that now qualifies as a global emergency. 

There have now been more than 14,000 cases reported, and five deaths, from 71 WHO member states. There are already effective treatments and vaccines for monkeypox, but they are in short supply. 

President Higgins has today signed into law, landmark legislation for a 'Free Contraception' scheme for 17 - 25 year old's. This is a major step forward for sexual and reproductive rights in Ireland, and we look forward to a rapid expansion to the under 17s and over 25s.

The measures are to come into operation by early September 2022.

The contraception scheme will cover the full cost of prescription contraception, including the cost of:

New and updated COVID-19 guidance is regularly added to the HPSC website. Read the latest newly added guidance and guidance updates here  http://bit.ly/3BGBqdk

HPSC has now been notified of 69 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ireland, and have published the latest report on confirmed cases. Read the latest update on monkeypox in Ireland here:  http://bit.ly/3wX6OFw