Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in the context of the increase in Strep A infections in young children, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility for flu vaccinations to two-year-olds who were born after 31 August 2020.

Getting flu and other viral infections can increase the risk of invasive Group A Strep infection in the following weeks. The flu vaccine reduces the risk of having flu and group A Strep infections at the same time therefore it reduces the chance of developing invasive Group A Strep. As the Live Attenuated Vaccine is not licensed for those under two years the cut-off date of the 31 August was set to reduce the risk of children who are under this age receiving the vaccine by accident and allows the vaccine to be given in time for the flu season. Sufficient vaccines have been purchased to vaccinate children eligible at the start of the season and to expand the programme at this late stage would risk supply.