§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans to extend the vaccination of children in the UK. [86035]
§ Ms BlearsThe existing childhood immunisation programme has been extremely effective in eradicating diseases that previously killed and disabled large numbers of children. For example, polio vaccination has eliminated polio for more than 15 years from this country. MMR has virtually wiped out congenital rubella syndrome and has prevented any child deaths from acute measles for 10 years.
The impact of the childhood programme is reviewed regularly. Changes to programme are only considered following a careful assessment of all of the evidence by the expert advisory body the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. No decisions have yet been made concerning extending the programme.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list take-up rates of vaccinations generally available through the NHS for each of the past five years. [86033]
§ Ms BlearsThe information available about uptake of immunisations, primarily childhood immunisations and the numbers of vaccinations given in England is contained in the Statistical Bulletin "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 2001–02". A copy of 675W the bulletin is in the Library and can also be found on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/ sb0218.htm.
Data were not collected on a routine basis for influenza immunisation before 2000–01. In that year, uptake among the age target group of people over 65 years of age was 65 per cent., across England and improved to 68 per cent., across England in the following year, 2001–02. Data are not yet available for the end of the programme for 2002–03.