This site is intended for health professionals only

Flu vaccine orders “to be centralised”

Flu vaccine orders “to be centralised”

22 January 2011

Share this story:


Ordering flu vaccines could be brought under central control after a "mismatch" in supplies this winter left some areas with a shortage and others with a surplus.

The Government's director of immunisation, Professor David Salisbury, has said there is a "pretty compelling" case for moving responsibility away from GPs to central control and health minister Earl Howe said the idea is being considered.


Ordering flu vaccines could be brought under central control after a “mismatch” in supplies this winter left some areas with a shortage and others with a surplus.

The Government’s director of immunisation, Professor David Salisbury, has said there is a “pretty compelling” case for moving responsibility away from GPs to central control and health minister Earl Howe said the idea is being considered.

Mr Howe’s comments come after the Government had to release stocks of last winter’s swine flu vaccine to cover demand for this year’s seasonal flu jab, although ministers insist there are sufficient supplies to cover England.

At question time in the Lords, Lord Howe said: “Almost all vaccines, excepting seasonal flu vaccines, are procured centrally.

“Central procurement does provide a cost-effective arrangement and can take account of the variations in supply and demand.

“It also gives us the ability to track where the batches of vaccine have gone. So, we are looking at taking into the Department of Health the procurement of the seasonal flu vaccine.”

Copyright © Press Association 2011

Department of Health

Want news like this straight to your inbox?

Related news

ICSs breach £650m overspend in six months
ICBs must sign-off GP access plans to allocate £73.8m
Integrated care boards (ICBs) must agree and sign-off GP networks’ access improvement plans by 12...
‘Divisive’ purchaser-provider split to end as ICBs take charge
MPs call for review into ICB membership
The Government should review integrated care board (ICB) membership to ensure each board adequately represents...