Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply of flu vaccines to community pharmacies; when he plans to contact people in the 50 to 64 age group on getting a flu vaccination; and if he will make a statement.

Community pharmacists are responsible for ordering flu vaccine from suppliers which are used to deliver the national flu programme to adults, with deliveries phased through the season. The Department has procured additional doses of seasonal flu vaccine to ensure more flu vaccines are available this winter. Community pharmacists who have exhausted their own supply are now able to order from this central stock.

This season, the flu vaccine programme will be extended to include the 50-64 year old age group, following prioritisation of those in at risk groups and frontline health and social care workers.

Fifty to 64 year olds who do not fall within an at-risk eligible cohort will be invited to receive a free vaccination from 1^st December.