Vaccination coverage: Flu (2 to 3 years old) - WMCA

Flu vaccine uptake (%) in children aged 2 to 3 years old, who received the flu vaccination between 1st September to the end of February as recorded in the GP record. The February collection has been adopted for our end of season figures from 2017 to 2018. All previous data is the same definitions but until the end of January rather than February to consider data returning from outside the practice and later in practice vaccinations. ## Rationale Influenza (also known as Flu) is a highly infectious viral illness spread by droplet infection. The flu vaccination is offered to people who are at greater risk of developing serious complications if they catch the flu. The seasonal influenza programme for England is set out in the Annual Flu Letter. Both the flu letter and the flu plan have the support of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPhO), and Director of Nursing. Vaccination coverage is the best indicator of the level of protection a population will have against vaccine-preventable communicable diseases. Immunisation is one of the most effective healthcare interventions available, and flu vaccines can prevent illness and hospital admissions among these groups of people. Increasing the uptake of the flu vaccine among these high-risk groups should also contribute to easing winter pressure on primary care services and hospital admissions. Coverage is closely related to levels of disease. Monitoring coverage identifies possible drops in immunity before levels of disease rise. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will continue to provide expert advice and monitoring of public health, including immunisation. NHS England now has responsibility for commissioning the flu programme, and GPs continue to play a key role. NHS England teams will ensure that robust plans are in place locally and that high vaccination uptake levels are reached in the clinical risk groups. For more information, see the Green Book chapter 19 on Influenza. The Annual flu letter sets out the national vaccine uptake ambitions each year. In 2021 to 2022, the national ambition was to achieve at least 70% vaccine uptake in those aged 2 to 3 years old. Prior to this, the national vaccine uptake ambition was 75% in line with WHO targets. ## Definition of numerator Numerator is the number of vaccinations administered during the influenza season between 1st September and the end of February. ## Definition of denominator Denominator is the GP registered population on the date of extraction including patients who have been offered the vaccine but refused it, as the uptake rate is measured against the overall eligible population. For more detailed information please see the user guide, available to view and download from [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-uptake#seasonal-flu-vaccine-uptake] ## Caveats This collection has received approval from the Data Coordination Board (DCB). Data is final and represents a percentage of all GP practices in England responding to the final survey. Where a total for England is quoted (e.g., a sum of the number of patients registered and number vaccinated), this is taken from the GP practice sample and is therefore not an extrapolated figure. For definitions of clinical at-risk groups for those aged 6 months to under 65 years, see [the annual flu letter published at Annual Flu Programme]. The age under 65 clinical at-risk group data includes pregnant women with other risk factors but excludes otherwise 'healthy' pregnant women and carers. All figures are derived from data as extracted from records on GP systems or as submitted by GP practices, Area Teams, and CCGs. Data source: ImmForm website: registered patient GP practice data, Influenza Immunisation Vaccine Uptake Monitoring Programme, OHID.