Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to reduce the number of people contracting the winter flu virus.

Influenza vaccination is offered to those at higher risk from flu, including older people, pregnant women, and those with certain underlying medical conditions. Based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the range of recommended flu vaccines for different patient groups has been extended for 2019/20 and these should provide better protection.

Since 2013/14, the flu vaccination to children has been introduced in a phased roll-out. This programme provides protection to the children themselves and reduces flu transmission. In 2019/20 the programme will be extended to Year 6 school children, so for the first time in England all primary school aged children will be offered vaccination, as well as two and three year olds.

Vaccination is also recommended for frontline health and social care workers to reduce transmission of flu to those they care for.