§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for each family health services authority area what is the percentage of the elderly in receipt of influenza vaccination each year for the last five years. [27922]
§ Mr. SackvilleThis information is not available centrally.
§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is taking to ensure that general practitioners promote the highest possible take-up of influenza vaccination by elderly patients on their lists; and what target she has set for influenza vaccination coverage for this group of patients. [27923]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe chief medical officer will be reminding general practitioners in the next edition of "CMO's Update", which is circulated to all doctors, of the groups of patients for whom annual influenza immunisation is recommended and that now is the time to start planning, if they have not already done so. Further information will be issued in September.
Influenza immunisation is recommended for those of any age who are at especial risk by virtue of underlying disease such as chronic heart or lung disease, and for those in residential accommodation. The aim is to increase uptake year by year, but no specific target for influenza vaccine coverage has been set.