Government launches improved national vaccination programme

The Department of Health has announced a number of new measures designed to increase the number of people in the UK who have been immunised against several common conditions.

From September 2013, all children aged two will be offered a nasal flu vaccine, while a small number of pilots to vaccinate primary, secondary and preschool-aged children are planned ahead of a nationwide programme in 2015.

Meanwhile, a shingles vaccination programme for people aged 70 is also set to be introduced in September, with a rotavirus vaccination programme starting for children under the age of four in July.

Director of immunisation Professor David Salisbury said: "We already have a world class vaccination programme in place … so I'm pleased that we will be able to protect even more people against disease starting later this year."

The decision to introduce these new programmes comes following recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which is chaired by Professor Andy Hall of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.