The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is today celebrating 30 years of the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland at an event held by host organisation the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), in the Committee’s former home at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI).

The commemorative event will examine the impact of the guidelines over the last 30 years and hopes for the future, through a series of speeches and discussions from current and former NIAC members and associates. The event will be opened by Chief Medical Officer Professor Mary Horgan, and will include a presentation by NIAC Clinical Lead Dr Sarah Geogheghan, a panel discussion moderated by NIAC Chair Dr Edina Moylett, and speeches by HIQA’s CEO Angela Fitzgerald and Director of Health Technology Assessment Dr Máirín Ryan, as well as RCPI President Dr Diarmuid O’Shea.

The Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland were first published in 1996 with the aim of developing a simpler and more concise guide to immunisation in Ireland and of improving vaccine uptake. Through the guidelines, NIAC’s recommendations and advice have been translated into a practical guide for healthcare professionals.

The introduction of new vaccine products and the evolution of diseases over time have prompted updates of existing chapters and the development of new chapters through a robust, evidence-based review process. The guidelines are a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and others interested in immunisation, with the chapters collectively downloaded over 16,000 times in the first six months of 2026.

Commenting on the event, HIQA’s Director of Health Technology Assessment, Dr Máirín Ryan, said:

“HIQA is delighted to celebrate 30 years of the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. Using robust and evidence-based information to inform decision-making is a key component of HIQA’s work and we look forward to continuing to support NIAC in their work on updating the guidelines and making them more accessible.”

Dr Edina Moylett, NIAC Chair, added:

“The guidelines are a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and it’s vital that they continue to have access to trustworthy and independent information. The guidelines have played a key role in shaping immunisation policy in Ireland since they were first launched and NIAC looks forward to continuing to positively impact public health in Ireland.”

Read the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland (opens new webpage).

ENDS

Notes:

• NIAC provides independent expert evidence-based recommendations and advice to the Minister for Health on immunisation and related health matters in the Irish context. NIAC is a voluntary committee of experts that includes broad representation in immunisation and related fields such as public health and infectious diseases, as well as lay representation.
• NIAC is supported by a dedicated team based within HIQA’s health technology assessment directorate.
• As Ireland’s National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group, NIAC works alongside a network of international National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group member organisations, benefiting from collaboration at a global level.
• In March 2025, NIAC moved from the RCPI to HIQA’s Health Technology Assessment Directorate, and became a statutory function of HIQA.
• The Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland are broken down into chapters covering different aspects of immunisation and diseases, including influenza, COVID-19, HPV and meningitis among others.

About HIQA

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent body that promotes safety and quality in the provision of health and social care services in Ireland.

Through its regulation, standard setting and evidence to inform decision-making functions, HIQA supports health and social care services to consistently deliver excellent standards of care and the best possible health and social care outcomes for all.