Question reference: S3W-23883
- Asked by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 12 May 2009
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Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 21 May 2009
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to extend eligibility for the free influenza vaccination programme to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
Answer
Pregnant women and breast feeding mothers who are at risk from the flu due to certain medical conditions are currently eligible for vaccination. At present there are no plans to extend eligibility to all pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the UK-wide advisory body on immunisation and vaccination issues, does annually review the target groups for seasonal flu vaccination based on the latest available evidence.