Recent Updates
Free Contraception Service for those aged 17 to 26yrs inclusive
The scheme provides for:
- The cost of necessary consultations with GPs and other doctors to discuss suitable contraceptive options for individual patients and to enable issuing of prescriptions for same;
- The cost of dispensing of contraceptive prescriptions by Community Pharmacists
- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals to fit/remove same;
- Provision of the wide range of contraceptive options previously only available to GMS (medical) card holders will also be available through this scheme, to include contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
HPV vaccine catchup programme by the HSE:
The Laura Brennan HPV Catch-Up Vaccination Programme was launched on December 8th 2022 and will run until the end of December 2023. The Programme will be delivered in HSE immunisation clinics, not in GP surgeries or pharmacies due to its time-limited nature.
The following groups are eligible for the HPV vaccine:
Females (currently in 2nd year – 6th year of secondary school, or in age-equivalent special schools or educated at home) who have not received the HPV vaccine.
Males (currently in 2nd year – 4th year of secondary school/5th year if they did not do transition year, or in age-equivalent special schools or educated at home) who have not received the HPV vaccine.
Unvaccinated females who have left second level education and are under 25 years of age on the date of vaccination.
Free home STI (sexually transmitted infection)testing
Home STI testing is available free of charge from the HSE via this link: sh24.ie
