Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that every person whose health makes them more vulnerable to flu is able to receive the winter flu vaccine without delay.

The flu vaccination is offered to people who are at risk of the serious complications of flu. This includes people over 65, pregnant women, and those in clinical risk groups. In addition, the vaccine is offered to carers, and frontline health and social care workers, who work with vulnerable groups.

A key objective of the children’s programme is to reduce transmission of flu to the general population and those at risk, in addition to providing individual protection. In 2019/20, all primary school aged children will be offered the vaccine for the first time in England.

Those eligible for flu vaccination can get the vaccine from their general practitioner, and since 2015/16 adult groups can also be vaccinated at their local community pharmacy, thus widening patient access.