To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of the decision to immunise poultry workers against seasonal influenza on the availability of seasonal influenza vaccines for other at-risk groups in the 2006-07 winter. (115017)

The implementation of the poultry workers policy was made in January, by which time 14.7 million doses of flu vaccine had been distributed to the field. This was more vaccine than used in the seasonal flu vaccination campaign of 2005-06.

The Department announced the poultry workers campaign in January, and purchased seasonal flu vaccine for this purpose. Therefore the routine seasonal influenza vaccination programme was not adversely affected by the decision to immunise poultry workers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency plans she has in place to assist the NHS in responding to an epidemic of seasonal influenza. (116852)

The seasonal flu vaccination programme offers protection to vulnerable groups. In addition, antiviral drugs can be used to treat people when flu is circulating in the community.

The national health service is expected each winter, with local authority and other local agencies, to ensure that plans are in place to ensure it copes effectively with additional seasonal pressures on services. The winter report 2005-06 sets out the NHS achievement over last winter. A similar report will be published this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2006, Official Report, column 139W, on influenza, what progress she is making towards 75 per cent. seasonal influenza vaccination coverage in at-risk groups, not including those aged 65 years and over. (106110)

In 2004-05, vaccine uptake in those under 65 years of age in a clinical risk group was 40 per cent. In 2005-06, vaccine uptake has increased to 48 per cent. in these risk groups.

We do not yet have comparable final data for 2006-07. Provisional data collected by end of December 2006 indicated that 40 per cent. of people under 65 years of age in clinical risk groups had been vaccinated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Bolton are entitled to a free influenza injection in 2006-07; and how many have taken up that entitlement. (110606)

The number of people aged 65 years and over in Bolton Primary Care Trust entitled to a free influenza injection in 2006-07 is approximately 39,500. Of this figure, 70.9 per cent. had taken up this entitlement by the end of December 2006. The number of people under 65 years who are in a medical risk group and who are entitled to a free influenza injection is approximately 21,000 and 45.2 per cent. had taken up this entitlement by the end of December 2006.

These figures are based on national vaccine uptake data for people registered with a general practitioner practice and are collected by the Health Protection Agency.