§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2002, on flu immunisation, (ref. 83320), what the national average take-up by the over-65s of flu vaccinations was; [84897]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2002, on flu immunisation, Official Report, column 135W, what percentage of over 65s in west Sussex to be immunised against flu were over 85 years old; and what percentage this represented as a whole for the county. [84898]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 2 December 2002]: Nationally, the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) monitor the uptake of flu immunisations in those aged 65 years and over only. The number of those aged 85 and over receiving a flu immunisation is not available. Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority has advised me that information is also only available locally on the same 65 and over basis.
898WMonitoring figures from the PHLS at the end of October, show that the national average of those aged 65 and over receiving their free flu immunisation was 55 per cent.