To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the adequacy of supplies of the H1N1 vaccine to GP practices in order to meet the initial prioritisation of at-risk groups. (304151)

The Department has been monitoring the supply of swine flu vaccines to the national health service very closely and is in regular contact with the vaccine manufacturers and distributor.

As of 2 December 2009, 14.9 million doses of Pandemrix had been received in the United Kingdom, which was sufficient for all of the initial high-risk priority groups. An initial distribution of 500 doses of Pandemrix to every general practitioner (GP) practice in England was completed by 13 November 2009. From 12 November 2009 primary care trusts (PCTs) have been able to order additional supplies of vaccine for their GPs by using the Department's online ordering system.

While the timing of our overall delivery schedule has been reliant on predicted supplies from the manufacturer, we have taken action to ensure that supplies are pushed out to the national health service as fast as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reach agreement with the British Medical Association on procedures and policy for vaccinating children between the ages of six months and five years against swine influenza. (304230)

As of 3 December 2009, negotiations between the British Medical Association General Practitioners Committee and NHS Employers were continuing. The Department is seeking a prompt conclusion to the negotiations to enable the NHS to begin protecting children over six months and under five years from the H1N1 swine flu virus as soon as possible.