§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to local health authorities about the categories of patients who are entitled to receive a free influenza vaccination. [59532]
§ Ms JowellInfluenza immunisation is recommended on the National Health Service for all those in whom the disease is more likely to be a serious illness, so immunisation is recommended for
those with chronic respiratory, heart or renal disease, diabetes and those who are immunosuppressedthose living in long stay residential accommodationfrom this year, all those aged 75 and over.The final decision on whether influenza immunisation is offered rests with the individual's doctor/medical practitioner.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) wrote to doctors and nurses advising them of this extension in policy in a joint letter in August 1998 (Personal Letter/CM098/4 Personal Letter/CNO/98/6) 563W and a Health Services Circular (HSC 1998/140) was sent to health authorities. The Department has issued a poster and updated its two leaflets about influenza: 'What should I do about flu' and 'Flu vaccination', available from surgeries and health centres. Copies are available in the Library.