§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to make the pneumococcal vaccine more widely available to the under 65 age group; and if he will make a statement; [16523]
(2) in which health authorities in England and Wales the pneumococcal vaccine is available to those aged (a) over and (b) under 65 years; [16522]
(3) what estimate he has made of (a) the lives saved,
(b) the hospital bed days saved and (c) the hospital costs saved by extending the availability of the pneumococcal vaccine; and if he will make a statement. [16524]
§ Jacqui SmithPneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all those aged two years or older in whom pneumococcal infection is likely to be more common and/or dangerous, for example, those with:
- Asplenia or severe dysfunction of the spleen
- Chronic renal disease or nephrotic syndrome
- Immunodeficiency or immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including HIV infection at all stages
- Chronic heart disease
- Chronic lung disease
- Chronic liver disease including cirrhosis
- Diabetes mellitus.
Health authority data on the use of pneumococcal vaccine are not available. It is the responsibility of general practitioners and nurses to identify and immunise their at risk patients.
The Department has not carried out a cost-effectiveness study of administering the pneumococcal vaccine, but continues to recommend the vaccine based on underlying ill health rather than age.