Government outlines changes to seasonal flu strategy

The government has outlined a new set of measures designed to improve the UK health service's ability to respond to seasonal influenza outbreaks.

A seasonal flu plan has been published by health secretary Andrew Lansley this week which aims to improve planning for different scenarios, allowing the NHS to avoid a repeat of the vaccine shortages seen last winter.

The new plans would see the government working closely with GPs and pharmacies to improve the vaccine uptake rate among at-risk patients aged below 65 from 50 percent to 75 percent over the next three years.

It would also involve the creation of a centralised procurement strategy for vaccines, which would reduce the organisational burden on GPs and save the NHS up to 40 million pounds per year.

Mr Lansley said: "A severe flu season places considerable pressure on the NHS and, although it coped well last year, there are areas where I'm determined we can improve."

According to figures from the Health Protection Agency, 602 people in the UK died from a confirmed influenza infection in the 2010/11 season, with young and middle-aged adults comprising the majority.