Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to encourage uptake of the NHS flu vaccine in (a) Slough and (b) England.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with local areas to ensure that regional teams have plans in place to increase coverage of the flu vaccination this winter. This includes a flu communications and engagement plan developed in partnership with Public Health England (PHE), local partners, community contacts and patient group members to encourage uptake of flu vaccination amongst eligible groups.

PHE have launched a new marketing campaign to encourage uptake of flu vaccination amongst eligible groups. The marketing campaign promotes the vaccine through TV adverts, local media, social media, newsletters and videos, with material available in multiple languages.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are also using an enhanced call and recall system, so that those who are eligible are reminded to book a vaccination. They are also working closely with general practices and school immunisations teams to identify areas of low uptake and implement targeted communications for these areas.

Additional flu vaccine has been purchased by the Department, which is now available to providers to increase uptake in existing groups.