§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the benefits of introducing a programme of systematic vaccination of those health care workers working with the elderly. [105637]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 18 January 2000]: United Kingdom Health Ministers are advised on immunisation policy by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). JCVI reviews its recommendations, including immunisation of healthcare workers, annually.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons NHS trusts were advised to vaccinate staff on the grounds of reducing absenteeism over the Millennium holiday. [105632]
584W
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 18 January 2000]: Decisions on whether to offer routine vaccinations to staff and, if so, to which groups of staff, were taken at local level by National Health Service trusts as a part of their winter planning arrangements.
Trusts were advised through a Health Service Circular issued on 24 September 1999 to consider the possible impact of staff absence through illness at a time of exceptional pressure over the extended Millennium holiday period.
In reaching their decisions, trusts were also reminded of the possible risks associated with immunisations.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the uptake of influenza vaccine has been among(a) the over 75s, (b) the over 65s, (c) the under 5s and (d) medically vulnerable groups in the last twelve months. [105634]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 18 January 2000]: The most recent estimates of vaccine uptake were published in Health Trends (1998; 30: 51–55). Copies are available in the Library.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason an age limit of 75 years was chosen for a pro-active campaign of influenza vaccination among the elderly. [105639]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 18 January 2000]: People aged 75 and over without underlying risk conditions and not living in residential care were added to the individuals recommended for flu immunisation in 1998. This followed advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The rationale was set out in a letter from the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer (PL/CNO/98/4, PL/CNO/98/6), copies of which are available in the Library.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures he will take to increase the levels of influenza vaccination among(a) those aged over 75 years, (b) those aged under 5 years and (c) those with medical conditions making them particularly susceptible to influenza; [105640]
(2) what plans he has to increase the public awareness about the uptake of the influenza vaccine. [105633]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 18 January 2000]: Influenza immunisation aims to reduce the morbidity and mortality due to flu by immunising those people most likely to have a severe or complicated illness due to flu. Immunisation is, therefore recommended for all those in whom the disease is more likely to be a serious illness, that is people:
with chronic respiratory or heart disease or renal disease, diabetes and those who are immunocompromisedliving in long stay residential accommodationaged 75 and over.In advance of this year's winter season the Department was involved in a range of activities to publicise the need for flu immunisation. GPs were reminded of the importance of flu immunisation in last August's CMG Update and about ordering Department of Health leaflets and posters on influenza and influenza immunisation. 585W Research has shown that the single most important factor affecting whether an individual is immunised or not is whether the doctor or nurse recommended it.
The Chief Medical Officer launched Flu Awareness Week at a press conference in October 1999. This annual event results in widespread media coverage and gives a useful opportunity to get key messages across to the general public. Flu Awareness Week is organised by the Association for Influenza Monitoring and Surveillance (aims) who organise media based awareness work each autumn. Other organisations, such as Help the Aged, support this activity as well as producing their own leaflets for the public.
Those in the risk groups were encouraged to come forward for immunisation through placed articles in the general and women's press and through relevant representative groups. This year's "Keep Warm, Keep Well" campaign encourages older people to keep healthy this winter and included information on influenza and immunisation. Help The Aged' s "Senior Line" was briefed on the importance of influenza immunisation. As part of the work on Flu Awareness Week, (aims) worked with various representative groups such as the British Lung Foundation, the British Heart Foundation, to promote awareness.
The Department will review how well these activities worked to increase awareness of influenza immunisation and will plan next winter's activities to increase uptake of vaccine on the basis of the lessons learned from this winter's activity.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doses of the vaccine for the flu are currently available. [105629]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 18 January 2000]: Manufacturers advise that they had over half a million doses of flu vaccine available during the week ending 16 January 2000.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what alternatives to the current influenza vaccine are available to those with an egg allergy. [105638]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 18 January 2000]: Flu vaccine should not be given to individuals with known anaphylactic hypersensitivity to egg products—simple allergy to egg is not a contraindication. For these small number of individuals who are also in high risk groups amantadine hydrochloride may be prescribed prophylactically by the person's doctor where it is clinically necessary.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent of regional variations in the availability of the influenza vaccine. [105630]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 18 January 2000]: None. Influenza immunisation is primarily delivered through general practice. General practitioners order vaccine direct from the manufacturers according to their requirements.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the funding available for an influenza vaccination programme. [105631]
586W
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 20 January 2000]: The Department will be reviewing this winter's influenza immunisation programme before planning next winter's activity. We will consider any implications for funding the programme in the light of this review.