Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Beccy Cooper and Olivia Bailey

Monday 19th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dr Beccy Cooper (Worthing West) (Lab)]

8. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of flu vaccination levels on rates of school absence in autumn 2025.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Olivia Bailey)]

Flu arrived earlier than usual this year, with increases first seen in children and young people. Despite the flu vaccination programme in schools getting off to a strong start in the autumn, with 4 million children vaccinated by early January—an improvement on last year’s figures—attendance levels have been impacted, and the data does show high illness-related absence.

[Dr Cooper]

As flu circulation in children normally starts before adults, and protection through the vaccine lasts much longer in children, the children’s programme should be under way across schools as early as possible from September 1. In my constituency of Worthing West, some schools were vaccinating children in the final weeks before Christmas last year. Will the Minister therefore undertake to work with the Department of Health and Social Care to review the timeliness of flu vaccinations in all schools, and to ensure that they are given as early as possible in the upcoming 2026-27 winter season?

[Olivia Bailey]

I thank my hon. Friend for her hard work for the people of Worthing West. I agree entirely about the importance of schools starting the vaccination programme as early as possible, and I want to reassure her that the Department is working closely with our colleagues at the Department of Health and Social Care, so that next year we can get under way as quickly as possible and in as many schools as possible.