HIQA launches public consultation on COVID-19 vaccination
HIQA has today launched a six-week public consultation on its health technology assessment (HTA) to inform COVID-19 vaccination policy in Ireland. The assessment was requested by the Department of Health and will be submitted as advice to the Minister for Health and the HSE. The aim of this HTA is to provide advice in relation to the groups for whom COVID-19 vaccination is funded for the 2027-2028 vaccination campaign onwards.
Since 2023, COVID-19 case rates have decreased across all age groups in Ireland, with decreases also seen in emergency department visit rates, intensive care unit and hospital admission rates, and death rates. However, COVID-19 continues to disproportionately affect those of older age, particularly those aged 80 years and older, resulting in an ongoing burden on patients and healthcare services.
HIQA found that COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective. It is associated with a significant reduction in severe disease; however, protection wanes over time. The cost of a national COVID-19 immunisation programme is substantial. For example, at an assumed vaccine price of €75 per dose, HIQA estimated that offering twice-yearly COVID-19 vaccination to adults aged 80 years and older would cost the HSE an additional €112 million over five years.
Commenting on the draft HTA, HIQA’s Deputy Director of Health Technology Assessment, Dr Patricia Harrington, said:
“While COVID-19 continues to have a disproportionate impact on some groups, including older adults, its severity has declined over time due to changes in the virus and the establishment of population level immunity through vaccination and prior infection. Given these changes, European countries have started to consider additional factors, such as evidence of cost effectiveness, in decisions around future COVID-19 vaccination policy. These decisions require careful consideration to ensure that the programme offered continues to protect those at the highest risk of severe disease.”
The public consultation on the draft findings of this HTA is now live, and HIQA is seeking feedback from the public and key stakeholders on this draft report. Feedback should be submitted via a survey which can be completed online or downloaded and filled out. The deadline for submissions is 9 August 2026.
Following the consultation, all submissions will be reviewed to inform the final version of the HTA, which will be published on HIQA’s website later in 2026.
ENDS
Notes for Editor:
- The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published the following document for public consultation:
- Draft health technology assessment (HTA) of COVID-19 vaccination in Ireland.
- The request from the Department of Health follows updated clinical recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC’s updated recommendations can be found here (opens PDF).
- In Ireland, access to free COVID-19 vaccination is provided by the HSE for certain groups of people. Information on who can currently access COVID-19 vaccination and how to do so can be found here (opens external website).
- Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some people (for example, older people, those with underlying health conditions and those living with immunocompromise) are at a higher risk of severe disease. Some people continue to experience symptoms long after the infectious period has ended, this is known as long COVID.
- HIQA has previously published the following document:
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.