Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 22 June (HL8406), what contingency plans they have made for a major manufacturer of flu vaccinations being unable to supply the UK for the 2023/24 season.

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency maintains oversight on adult flu supplier distribution activity during season to ascertain whether there are any manufacturing problems which could impact the running of the programme at a national level, such as the number of doses available across the United Kingdom or significant delays to deliveries.

If there are factors that are sufficiently serious to significantly affect the implementation of the vaccination programme, guidance will be issued to the National Health Service to minimise the impact, for example by advising the prioritisation of particular eligible groups over others.