To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the uptake of the flu vaccine among people with (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, (b) asthma and (c) other long-term health conditions.

Those most at risk from flu, including people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and other long term health conditions, are offered annual flu vaccination. At risk patients are targeted by the Public Health England and the NHS England and NHS Improvement marketing campaign, ‘Help Us Help You’, which includes television, radio and social advertising supported by public relations, digital search and partnership activity. Communications this year include messages about the wider range of flu vaccines now available, which offer better protection.

Those eligible for flu vaccination can get the vaccine from their general practitioner or in a scheme introduced in 2015/16, through local pharmacies, thus widening patient access.

We will be also be publishing a vaccination strategy focused on improving vaccine uptake rates across the life course.

As part of its assurance process NHS England and NHS Improvement work through their regional teams and with clinical commissioning groups to ensure that those practices with lowest uptake are contacted and action is taken to increase vaccination rates.