Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the availability of flu nasal spray for (a) pre-school and (b) school-aged children in the winter period 2019-20.

Overall this season, sufficient flu nasal spray (a live attenuated influenza vaccine - LAIV) has been procured to ensure that all eligible children who present for vaccination can receive it. Deliveries of LAIV are occurring slightly later this season, compared to previous seasons. Available stocks are being managed closely and Public Health England is working with Astra Zeneca and NHS England and NHS Improvement to ensure that all eligible children get their flu vaccine as soon as possible. Children who have underlying medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to flu will be prioritised by general practitioners in the first instance.