Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of communications on (a) managing availability of and (b) access to vaccination services at GP surgeries.

While no specific assessment has been made, general practices (GPs) are contractually obliged to provide various routine vaccinations and immunisations. They may also opt in to provide seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Practices are also required to communicate information on clinical appointments, including vaccinations and immunisations, to patients which may be done through the National Health Service website, the practice leaflet, the practice website, on a waiting room poster, by writing to the patient and through active offers by staff booking appointments.

Where a seasonal or response vaccine drive is in place, such as COVID-19, flu and polio, vaccination centres and pharmacies are being used in addition to GPs to deliver the vaccination, to offer more availability and accessibility for patients.

Communications evaluation does not specifically assess the effect on managing availability of and access to vaccination services at GP surgeries, but instead focuses on driving intention and uptake via relevant and available operational routes.