DOCTORS HAVE WELCOMED a deal that will see doctors vaccinate new-born babies on schedule.

GPs had warned the government would miss an upcoming deadline to introduce new vaccines against two serious illnesses for newborn babies.

The Irish Medical Organisation warned the 1 December deadline to expand the vaccination programme against Meningococcal B/MenB and Rotavirus.

However, a deal reached today will see GPs given the resources to roll out the vaccinations.

Health Minister Simon Harris today said families could avail of the vaccinations from 1 December.

I am very pleased that I am in a position to add Meningitis B and Rotavirus to the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme. This will make further improvements to public health. I am also pleased that I have the support of GPs to deliver it and I want to thank the IMO for their engagement on delivering this programme.

Under the scheme, all babies born on, or after, 1 October 2016 will receive vaccines for Meningococcal B ( and Rotavirus disease in addition to the other childhood vaccines currently given. The first doses of these vaccines are given at two months of age, which means that the first babies are due to begin receiving these vaccines from the beginning of December.

Dr. Padraig McGarry, Chairman of the GP Committee of the IMO said:

“The introduction of these additional vaccines is an important public health policy and it is critical that it is resourced appropriately.”

Read: “A disgrace” – Doctors warn that vaccines to protect newborns will not be introduced by deadline