§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to(a) provide and (b) promote pneumococcal vaccine for pensioners aged over 65 years; and if he will make a statement; [10104]
(2) what plans the JCVI has to consider the effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccine on elderly patients and make recommendations on its future use for NHS patients aged over 65 years. [10106]
(3) what evaluations his Department has made of the clinical effectiveness of the pneumococcal vaccine for those aged over 65 years; [10103]
(4) what estimates he has made of the (a) cost and (b) savings to the NHS if everyone aged 65 years and more were given the pneumococcal vaccine; [10105]
(5) what evaluations his Department has carried out into the cost effectiveness of administering the pneumococcal vaccine to all those aged over 65 years; [10107]
(6) what plans her Department has to submit evidence to the JCVI on the effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccine for those aged 65 years and older; and if he will make a statement. [10102]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 29 October 2001]: Based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), pneumococcal vaccine is currently recommended for use in certain risk groups with certain medical conditions, which put them at higher risk of pneumococcal infection. The JCVI regularly reviews its advice and the Department also keeps the evidence base on this topic under review.
349WPneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all those aged two years or older in whom pneumococcal infection is likely to be more common and/or dangerous, ie those with:
- Asplenia or severe dysfunction of the spleen
- Chronic renal disease or nephrotic syndrome
- Immunodeficiency or immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including HIV infection at all stages
- Chronic heart disease
- Chronic lung disease
- Chronic liver disease including cirrhosis
- Diabetes mellitus.
It is the responsibility of general practitioners and nurses to identify and immunise their at risk patients.
The Department has not carried out a cost effectiveness study of administering the pneumococcal vaccine to all aged 65 years and over but continues to recommend the vaccine based on underlying ill health rather than age.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the clinical and cost effectiveness of implementing an age-based pneumococcal vaccine campaign; [10736]
(2) which health authorities operate age-based pneumococcal vaccine campaigns. [10737]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 29 October 2001]: The Department has not carried out a cost effectiveness study of administering pneumococcal vaccine based on age and does not hold data on which health authorities operate age-based pneumococcal vaccine, as the Department continues to recommend the vaccine based on underlying ill health rather than age.
Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all those aged two years or older in whom pneumococcal infection is likely to be more common and/or dangerous, ie those with:
- Asplenia or severe dysfunction of the spleen
- Chronic renal disease or nephrotic syndrome
- Immunodeficiency or immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including HIV infection at all stages
- Chronic heart disease
- Chronic lung disease
- Chronic liver disease including cirrhosis
- Diabetes mellitus.
It is the responsibility of general practitioners and nurses to identify and immunise their at risk patients.