Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason some pharmacists and GPs are experiencing delays in acquiring the seasonal flu vaccine.

General practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists are directly responsible for ordering flu vaccine from suppliers which are used to deliver the national flu programme to adults. This year we have seen an early increase in demand for the flu vaccination, and GPs and pharmacists have used their first deliveries of flu vaccine.

The flu vaccine is delivered to GPs, pharmacies and other services in batches for operational reasons, including allowing GPs and pharmacies to schedule clinics and appointments alongside their other usual services and to allow people to choose when to have their vaccination.

There is sufficient vaccine for over 30 million people to be vaccinated in England this winter and flu vaccination deliveries will continue in all areas in England throughout the winter months as they do every year.