Written question asked by Jacqui Lait (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 25 January 2010. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Monday, 25 January 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Swine Flu: Vaccination

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2009, Official Report, column 1059W, on swine influenza: disease control, what consideration he has given to the merits of (a) using the NHS number alone to track take-up of the vaccine and (b) requiring only monthly totals of vaccinations administered by each GP or practice to be submitted.

Answer: The Department's policy is to collect only anonymised statistical data for swine influenza vaccine uptake and therefore no individual patient identifiable data are collected as part of this vaccine uptake data collection. Using national health service numbers would have been inconsistent with this policy.The Department only requires swine influenza vaccine uptake data from all general practices on a monthly basis. The weekly vaccine uptake figures are based on an automated extraction of data from about 40 per cent, of general practitioner practices. This data extraction places no burden on these practices.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 504 c555W; 312649
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Swine Flu: Disease Control
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Vaccination Swine flu
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk