Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the reasons why uptake rates among groups eligible for the free influenza vaccine are low.

Provisional data for flu season 2018-19 (autumn to spring) shows that flu vaccine uptake in those aged 65 and over is at similar levels to previous years and close to the World Health Organization target of 75%.

Vaccine uptake in the children’s programme is at the highest level since the introduction of the programme for two and three-year olds vaccinated in general practice and for children offered the vaccine in primary school.

For pregnant women and for those in at risk groups eligible for flu vaccine, the vaccination uptake is slightly lower compared to last year. There are many reasons for this. Many patients do not appreciate how serious flu can be and the importance of protecting themselves.

Provisional data can be viewed at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-uptake