Swine Flu: Vaccination
Health
Written answers and statements, 28 October 2009
Andrew Lansley (Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Health; South Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of likely take-up rates of swine influenza vaccine (a) amongst different age groups, (b) amongst people with different vulnerabilities to the illness and (c) by geographic area.
Gillian Merron (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of Health; Lincoln, Labour)
The Department has estimated a national uptake rate of 70 per cent. for all the priority at-risk groups, based on the uptake rate of 74 per cent. for seasonal flu vaccine among the over 65s. Based on previous data on seasonal influenza vaccine uptake, there is little reason to believe that there will be significant regional variation in this estimated uptake rate.
This estimate is for planning purposes only and is not a target. We recommend that all people in the priority groups receive the vaccine.