Influenza: Vaccination

(asked on 8th February 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the minimum efficacy threshold is that the NHS sets when commissioning the annual seasonal flu vaccine from the presented candidates, in percentage terms, in terms of (a) preventing serious infection in people in receipt of the vaccine (i) aged 45 to 64 and (ii) aged 65 and over, (b) preventing hospitalisation of people in receipt of the vaccine (i) aged 45 to 64 and (ii) aged 65 and over and (c) preventing death from influenza of people in receipt of the vaccine (i) aged 45 to 64 and (ii) aged 65 and over; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 24th February 2021

Flu vaccines are assessed for minimum efficacy thresholds at the point of licensure. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for licensing flu vaccines based on efficacy and safety results from clinical trials in the specific age groups intended for the license application.

The World Health Organization monitors flu globally and each year convenes a vaccine composition group that recommends the strains of flu virus that should be included in the licensed flu vaccines for the forthcoming flu season. The effectiveness of influenza vaccines can vary from year to year depending on a range of factors, including how well the vaccine strain is matched to circulating strains.

The Department and NHS England receive advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) about which vaccines are suitable or preferred for which age groups in the flu programme. The JCVI makes its advice from the available scientific evidence from a variety of sources including clinical and observation studies on the safety and performance of flu vaccines in the United Kingdom and globally. In advance of each flu season, NHS England publishes guidance on the vaccines that are included in the National Health Service programme, based on the JCVI’s, advice alongside operational aspects, such as availability of supply and affordability.

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