Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase take-up of the flu vaccine among (a) ethnic and (b) low-income groups.

Public Health England (PHE) has investigated variations in flu vaccine uptake. Vaccine coverage is closely monitored, and deprivation and ethnicity are key predictors for the levels of flu vaccine uptake.

Outcomes from this analysis are being taken forward in the delivery of the national programme, for instance:

- PHE and NHS England run the annual national ‘Help Us Help You - Stay Well This Winter campaign’ which encourages eligible groups to get their flu vaccine each year, including tailored activity for Black, Asian and Minority and Ethnic groups;

- NHS England local teams work in partnership with local authorities and other stakeholders to plan and promote vaccination, such that it is responsive to local needs; and

- PHE works with an extensive range of partners to provide campaign resources that can be tailored to specific audiences and local needs as required.