Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 23 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 November 2005. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 December 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Influenza Vaccine

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information (a) is routinely collected as part of the seasonal influenza vaccination programme and (b) was collected as part of this year's special audit; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the data her Department has collected in each of the last three years.

Answer: [holding answer 28 November 2005]: Since 2000, the Department has collected data from each primary care trust (PCT) on the number of over 65s, and since 2004 other younger, at risk groups, who receive the seasonal influenza vaccine. Details of this year's survey of vaccine uptake can be found in the guide for PCTs available at http://194.200.241.125/pctguides/.The data on 2003–04 vaccine uptake is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assestRoot/04/09/95/77/04/099577.pdf.Data on 2004–05 vaccine uptake is also available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assestRoot/04/ll/96/50/04119650.pdf. They are also available in the Library.This year's special audit asked general practitioners:"whether they had sufficient flu vaccine to complete their influenza vaccination programme;""if they needed more flu vaccine, how many doses they would require to complete their influenza vaccination programme; and""if they had already completed their influenza vaccination programme, did they have surplus flu vaccine available that could be re-distributed to other practices within their area or PCT. And, if so, how many."

Secondary information