Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to increase flu vaccination coverage rates throughout the UK.

Public Health England (PHE) has worked in partnership with NHS England to promote the ‘Help Us Help You’ campaign to encourage flu vaccination in England. The campaign is targeted at pregnant women, children, and those with long term health conditions. It launched on 8 October 2018 and ran until 31 October and consisted of television, radio and social advertising supported by public relations, digital search and partnership activity. Flu vaccination for health and social care workers has been supported by the ‘Flu Fighter’ campaign led by NHS Employers.

PHE undertakes proactive media activity to promote flu vaccination during the vaccination period. This season, this has included activity to promote the newly available adjuvanted vaccine for those aged 65 and over.