Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 4. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:31 pm on 8 July 2020.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 2:31, 8 July 2020

Well, I can say we're already looking at this year's flu programme and, in particular, at procuring extra stocks of the flu vaccine. There is work going on across Wales on extending eligibility for the NHS flu programme. I want to have a much higher uptake of both staff who work with vulnerable people as well as those people who qualify for an NHS flu jab to actually take up that entitlement.

There were particular issues with the form of the vaccine supply last year. We're in early conversations. That is work not just within Wales, but also it's a conversation that I've had amongst the four Cabinet health Ministers across the UK, because we do actually share resources in the way we procure the flu vaccine. So, we're looking at an earlier and more significant procurement to make sure we're able to help people protect themselves and their families, of course.

We do know that vulnerability to flu is a potential issue if we do see a further increase in coronavirus itself. I'm not so much concerned that there might be a difficult flu season, but an average flu season with a further increase in coronavirus could have really significant consequences and real harm across Wales, so it's one of my more significant concerns now in planning for the autumn and the winter.