§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has in future to ensure that there are sufficient supplies of influenza vaccine when demand increases in response to advice on immunisation given by her chief medical officer.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department will continue to liaise with the influenza vaccine manufacturers each year, in advance of the issue of the chief medical officer's letter to doctors, to ensure that their production intentions are to total at least the previous year's usage plus an increment for year on year increases in uptake.
The CMO's advice for 1993–94 was the same as for 1992–93. Doses of vaccine distributed in 1992–93 totalled just under 4-7 million. For 1993–94 they have exceeded 5 million despite the fact that a fifth of our expected supply did not become available.
Copies of the letter, PL/CMO(93)13, will be placed in the Library.