Health: Influenza Vaccination

Lord Hughes of Woodside Excerpts

Thursday 20th January 2011 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, we are very clear that the amount of vaccine produced for this season’s flu to address the probable need for vaccination was more than adequate. It is up to GPs to order the quantity of vaccine that they see as appropriate for their patients. That is what has happened over the past couple of years. Supplies are also ordered independently by private pharmacies. As regards my noble friend’s point on the H1N1 monovalent vaccine, I am afraid that 90 per cent of deaths have been from what is called swine flu, so that is a very appropriate vaccine to use in these circumstances.

[Lord Hughes of Woodside]

Will the Minister comment on reports in today’s press that the Department of Health is intending to take back in house the ordering of flu vaccines because GPs have not done it properly?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, almost all vaccines, except the seasonal flu vaccines, are procured centrally because central procurement provides a cost-effective arrangement that can take account of the variation in supply and demand. It also gives us the ability to track where the batches of vaccine have gone. We are therefore looking at taking into the department the procurement of the seasonal flu vaccine.