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 ensure that the NHS meets its flu immunisation targets for at-risk groups this winter.

Those most at risk from flu including people over 65, pregnant women, and those in clinical risk groups are offered annual vaccination. This year, more effective vaccines are being offered, an adjuvanted vaccine to over 65s and a quadrivalent one for those under 65.

A Public Health England and NHS England marketing campaign Help Us Help You was launched in October 2018 to encourage flu vaccination in all eligible groups. NHS England commissioned additional media activity from 19 November, including television, commercial radio and national and regional press advertising targeted at those aged 65 and over, to promote further uptake of flu vaccination. At the same time all NHS England regional teams drove media coverage in local print and on regional broadcast media.

As part of its assurance process NHS England has been working through its regional teams and clinical commissioning groups to ensure that practices with lowest uptake are contacted and action is taken to increase vaccination rates.