To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received from (a) members of the public and (b) health care professionals on the supply of seasonal influenza vaccines for the 2008-09 winter. (245634)

The Department has received several inquiries from members of the public mainly relating to specific general practitioner (GP) surgeries and their influenza vaccine supplies.

GP surgeries order influenza vaccines directly from the suppliers. As such, GP surgeries contact individual manufacturers if they experience supply problems.

The Department holds regular discussions with the UK Vaccine Industry Group (UVIG) to ensure adequate vaccine supply for the influenza programme. The UVIG has confirmed that there is sufficient vaccine to meet all orders placed with the suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of seasonal influenza vaccines for the winter 2008-09 seasonal influenza immunisation programme; what discussions he has had with vaccine manufacturers on their capacity to supply adequate stocks of vaccine; which manufacturers are supplying vaccine to the UK; what information he has received about vaccine manufacturers encountering difficulties in (a) manufacturing and (b) delivering vaccines; and if he will make a statement. (245635)

The Department holds regular discussions with the UK Vaccine Industry Group (UVIG) to ensure adequate vaccine supply for the influenza programme. The UVIG has confirmed that there is sufficient vaccine to meet all orders placed with the suppliers.

UVIG have also confirmed that there have been no difficulties in manufacturing and delivering vaccines.

The manufacturers which have supplied vaccine during this season are GSK, MASTA, Novartis Vaccines, Sanofi Pasteur MSD, Solvay Healthcare and Wyeth Vaccines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways his Department is communicating to health care workers the importance of seasonal influenza immunisation, as stated in the minutes of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s meeting of 13 February 2008. (245638)

As stated in the chief medical officer letter of 31 March 2008, responsibility for immunisation for occupational staff rests with employers and should be provided by occupational health services. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library.

The Department has recently published a new leaflet, fact sheet and poster encouraging health care professionals to get vaccinated against the flu.

Also in June 2008, the Department held a national flu immunisation conference for primary care trust flu leads. This conference focused on flu vaccinations for health care workers and the issues around improving uptake.