Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many claims on (a) MMR, (b) Covid-19 and (c) all other vaccinations have been made to the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme in each of the last three years; and how many of each are awaiting a decision as of 1 February 2024.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
In 2021 there were 27 claims related to measles, mumps or rubella (MMR) received by the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), one of which is still awaiting a decision as of 1 February 2024. Additionally in 2021, 616 claims were received relating to COVID-19, with 42 still awaiting an outcome as of 1 February 2024. 43 claims were received for all other diseases covered by the Vaccine Damage Payment Act (VDPA) 1979, and in this category, seven applications were awaiting an outcome as of 1 February 2024.
In 2022 there were 19 claims related to MMR received by the VDPS, one of which is still awaiting a decision as of 1 February 2024. Furthermore in 2022, 2723 claims were received relating to COVID-19 with 266 still awaiting an outcome as of 1 February 2024. 86 claims were received for all other diseases covered by the VDPA 1979, and of these, 12 applications were still awaiting an outcome as of 1 February 2024.
In 2023 there were five claims related to MMR received by the VDPS, one of which is still awaiting a decision as of 1 February 2024. In this same year, 5383 claims were received relating to COVID-19 with 3519 still awaiting an outcome on 1 February 2024. 222 claims were received for all other diseases covered by the VDPA 1979, and of these, 139 applications were still awaiting an outcome as of 1 February 2024.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the uptake of routine childhood immunisations.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Department works alongside the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England on a range of initiatives to support increased uptake of the routine childhood programmes, including improved data collection to identify and address underserved populations, communication campaigns aimed at parents and guardians and improving children’s access to vaccination services through diverse delivery methods, making getting vaccinated easier for all.
NHS England has also rolled out additional programmes to improve immunisation coverage for children and catch those up who missed their initial offer, including NHS London’s measles, mumps and rubella campaign and a multi-phase polio campaign. Both campaigns also provide opportunities to catch up children for other important childhood vaccines, too.
It is vitally important that everyone takes up the vaccinations to which they are entitled, for themselves, their families, and wider society. Anyone unsure about their child’s eligibility or vaccination status should contact their general practitioner for advice.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the wellbeing of Jobcentre staff.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP continues to review and refine its wellbeing offer to ensure it remains up-to-date, relevant, and accessible to all. We have a DWP Colleague ‘My Wellbeing button’. The button enables quick, easy access to our DWP Wellbeing support offer from everyone’s desktop and takes colleagues to a newly designed wellbeing triage page where colleagues can quickly access the right information and support based on their needs. For example, ‘I need support today’ through to ‘I am looking for guidance as a line manager’. The purpose of this button is to raise the visibility of our wellbeing offer and provide a quick and streamlined journey to the service required, strengthening our culture of putting colleague wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
Within the Wellbeing button, the below support can be found:
‣ Employee Assistance Provision which includes:
‣ Flu vaccinations: Information for all DWP colleagues who are not able to access, or are not eligible for, the NHS flu vaccine can claim a refund if they choose to have a flu vaccination in 2023/24.
‣ Details of key wellbeing dates across the year which includes events/webinars to promote the day along with helpful tips for staff.
‣ A network of over 1,000 wellbeing advocates. Colleagues who have been given permission to give 5% of their time to support employee wellbeing. Colleagues can call them to discuss the wellbeing support offer and they actively promote the offer through giving presentations locally. We also have a Buddy Network who are volunteers that colleagues can call if they ever feel lonely and simply want a chat and have a wellbeing check-in.
‣ Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) who are specially trained colleagues who offer immediate support to others experiencing mental ill health or emotional distress. They also look out for early signs of developing issues and promote mental health awareness across the Department.
‣ Community Networks, these range from networks offering support with the Menopause, Cancer, alcohol, religion and more. They offer peer to peer support and regularly run events.
‣ Eye test – colleagues can access a free eye test once every two years or more frequently if advised by an optician or medical advisor, or if they are having visual problems whilst working at a workstation.
‣ Sanitary provision - DWP provide free sanitary products across the DWP Estate for anyone with an immediate need, to support colleague health and wellbeing.
‣ Charity for Civil Servants who offer Independent, impartial financial and emotional support to all Civil Servants. Assistance includes help for carers, financial support and advice, wellbeing support, mindfulness, anxiety support, nutrition, sleep, menopause, bereavement and Podcasts and Webinars
‣ Wellbeing and Resilience Toolbox which can be accessed by Line managers to lead their own team training on resilience, slide packs and facilitator packs are available to talk their team through sessions.
‣ 5 step Wellbeing Conversation Tools - a tool to help colleagues discuss how they are feeling, identify early warning signs of emotional distress, and explore a way forward.
‣ Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) – This document is to aid employee and line manager discussions (related to mental health/wellbeing). The WRAP is designed to help employees to reflect on the causes and symptoms of their own workplace mental health and wellbeing challenges, and to take practical steps to manage these.
‣ Stress evaluation tool – this tool is designed to assist staff to concentrate on pro-active and preventative measures to good stress management.
Annually we update the DWP voluntary reporting on disability, mental health and wellbeing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) voluntary report on Gov UK.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2023 to Question 395 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, what steps she is taking to implement the advice of the JCVI on the rollout of the autumn 2023 booster programme to people who are immunocompromised.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
As recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the autumn 2023 COVID-19 vaccination programme includes all those aged between six months and 64 years old in a clinical risk group, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book. This includes those with immunosuppression.
We continue to work with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to improve immunosuppressed uptake nationally, by understanding drivers of hesitancy, improving the quality of our published data, ensuring it is easy and convenient book and access vaccinations, and by continuing a variety of campaign activities throughout the winter including UKHSA’s ‘get winter strong’ campaign. This was launched on 1 November 2023 and encourages those eligible, specifically the clinically most vulnerable, who have not yet come forward for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines to do so.
NHS England has produced and shared a range of targeted communications materials encouraging people who are immunosuppressed to take up their offer of a COVID-19 booster vaccine, including posters, display screen visuals and social media cards. There are also materials to raise awareness that those who are a household contact of an immunosuppressed person are also eligible for vaccination. These materials have been translated into 28 languages to reach people from a wide range of communities through their native languages and have helped general practices, vaccination centres, pharmacies, and other sites to promote COVID-19 and flu vaccination this autumn/winter.
The Government’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, also wrote to the main charities representing the clinically most vulnerable patient cohorts, to publicise this autumn’s campaign, and to enable them to signpost the offer to their patient communities.
The autumn campaign remains open and all those who are eligible but who have not yet come forward are encouraged to take up their vaccination.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of children’s access to vaccination services.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Government is committed to improving vaccination uptake rates to fully protect the public from vaccine preventable diseases. The Department works with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England to improve children’s access to vaccination services through diverse delivery methods, making getting vaccinated easier for all, including those in traditionally under-served groups. NHS England has rolled out additional programmes such as NHS England London’s new drive to increase measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine uptake last summer to improve immunisation coverage for children and catch-up missed vaccinations due to the pandemic.
The Department is working with NHS England and UKHSA to encourage high uptake of all childhood vaccinations, including the polio vaccine, with NHS England London launching the next phase of their polio campaign, delivering a school-based catch-up for children aged between one and 11 years old. This will also provide opportunities to catch up children for other important childhood vaccines, including MMR.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the number of COVID-19 cases.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Based on the latest scientific evidence, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended a COVID-19 vaccination for those at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19. This includes all adults aged 65 years old and over and those aged six months old and over with specified underlying health conditions.
The National Health Service COVID-19 vaccination programme provides vital protection to those eligible, keeping people from developing serious illness, and helping to minimise hospitalisations during busy winter months. This year’s autumn COVID-19 vaccine programme started on 11 September 2023 in England as a precautionary measure following the identification a new COVID-19 variant called BA 2.86. As of 30 November 2023, over 11.2 million autumn vaccinations for COVID-19 have been administered since start of the autumn campaign. The programme has seen a fast rollout of COVID-19 vaccination to care home residents.
Additionally, on 1 November 2023, the Get Winter Strong campaign was launched urging those eligible who have not yet come forward for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines to ‘get winter strong’ and join the millions of others in taking up the offer ahead of the festive and new year season.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of expanding the portion of the flu immunisation programme delivered by community pharmacies.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
National Health Service providers determine how many seasonal flu vaccines to buy each year based on their local populations, eligible cohorts and uptake ambitions for the NHS programme as outlined in the annual flu system letter. The letter, published on 25 May 2023, is based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation who review the latest evidence on flu vaccines and advise on the type of vaccine to be offered to different age groups and on which vaccines should be prioritised for various at-risk groups.
In 2022/23, approximately 9,800 out of a total of around 10,800 community pharmacies delivered flu vaccinations in England. In the same year, approximately 700 community pharmacies piloted using the NHS National Booking Scheme for flu appointments for the first time. In terms of this year’s programme, all community pharmacies delivering COVID-19 vaccinations will be expected to deliver flu vaccines too. All pharmacies will be given the functionality to offer flu appointments via the national booking system with the aim of increasing coadministration of COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.
The community pharmacy service is currently an advanced service, which means it is commissioned nationally and any contractor that meets the criteria for the service can deliver it. We do not expect a significant change to be seen to the proportion of seasonal flu vaccination programme being delivered by community pharmacies, which is estimated to be approximately 86% total number of community pharmacies, in 2023/24.
In terms of this year’s programme, all community pharmacies delivering COVID-19 vaccinations will be expected to deliver flu vaccines too. All pharmacies will be given the functionality to offer flu appointments via the national booking system with the aim of increasing coadministration of COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to expand the eligibility criteria for covid-19 vaccinations as part of the seasonal booster programme.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The primary aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to be the prevention of severe disease, involving hospitalisation and mortality, arising from COVID-19. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended a targeted approach focussed on those vulnerable to serious outcomes from COVID-19 including older individuals and individuals with specified existing clinical conditions.
On 8 August 2023, the Government accepted advice from the JCVI on who should be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in the autumn 2023 booster programme. This includes residents in a care home for older adults, all adults aged 65 years and over, persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, frontline health and social care workers, persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts, and persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers.
Currently, there are no plans to expand the eligibility criteria for the autumn campaign. The JCVI will continue to review evidence and will provide further advice regarding future vaccination programmes in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase funding to deliver innovative immunisation delivery models to increase capacity and uptake among hard-to-reach groups.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is NHS England’s responsibility to apportion funds to optimise the delivery of the vaccination programmes. The Department works with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England to improve immunisation delivery, capacity, and uptake for all. This includes looking at innovative delivery routes to make getting vaccinated easier for under-served and under-vaccinated communities.
It is vitally important that everyone takes up the vaccinations to which they are entitled; for themselves, their families, and wider society. Anyone unsure about their eligibility or vaccination status should contact their general practitioner for advice.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much and what proportion of NHS England funding is expected to go to integrated care boards in the 2023-24 financial year; how much and what proportion of NHS England funding went to integrated care boards in the 2022-23 financial year; and how much and what proportion of NHS England funding went to clinical commissioning groups in (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21 and (c) 2021-22 financial years.
Answered by Will Quince
The following table shows the total final allocation to integrated care boards (ICBs) and/or clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) for the financial years 2019/20 to 2022/23, plus the current annual allocation value as at month two for 2023/24. This includes all allocations to ICBs and/or CCGs, including core programme funding, services delegated to ICBs such as general practice and other primary care services, and additional allocations for specific service development and transformation programmes.
The remainder of NHS England’s allocation, not allocated to ICBs, pays mainly for other National Health Service services and costs not commissioned by ICBs. This includes specialised services, vaccinations and screening, education and training, and other centrally managed NHS costs.
| Financial year | ||||
2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
£ million | £ million | £ million | £ million | £ million | |
CCG and/or ICB allocation | 89,730 | 101,907 | 115,007 | 119,174 | 123,880 |
Total NHS England allocation (Non-ring-fenced RDEL) | 123,377 | 149,473 | 150,614 | 158,521 | 167,313 |
| |||||
CCG/ICB allocation as % of total allocation | 73% | 68% | 76% | 75% | 74% |