Health: Influenza Vaccination Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Newton of Braintree
Main Page: Lord Newton of Braintree (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Newton of Braintree's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
(13 years, 9 months ago)
Lords ChamberYes, I am satisfied. The expert advice provided by the JCVI takes into consideration first and foremost the epidemiology of the disease in the UK, which may well differ from that in other countries. The noble Lord may be interested to know that, while the UK is experiencing H1N1 as the most prevalent flu strain, the prevalent flu strains in the United States are H3N2 and influenza B, so a very different situation applies in that country.
My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of an at-risk group who got vaccinated fairly early at the request of his doctor, which I acknowledge was based on expert advice. To follow on from the previous question, the plain fact is that that expert advice proved, in effect, to be politically unsustainable in one way or another. I think that that needs to be taken into account when we look at what we do next year.