DH influenza season debrief

April 2, 2007 at 2:54 pm | In Prescribing Extra - Other |

The Department of Health has issued a letter from the Chief Medical, Nursing and Pharmaceutical Officers thanking healthcare professionals for their efforts in the 2006/07 seasonal influenza vaccination programme and to provide information to aid planning for the 2007/08 programme.

Despite some problems in the supply of vaccines at the start of the 2006/07 programme approximately 900,000 more vaccine doses were distributed compared to the previous year and, in England, 74% of people aged over 65 were vaccinated and 42% of those identified as being in an at risk group.

The letter also provides details of the vaccines and suppliers for next years programme. It also clarifies the clinical risk groups to allow forecasting of demand for vaccines in 2007/08.

Action: Clinicians will find this document useful as an aid to planning activity for the 2007/08 seasonal influenza vaccination programme.