Government have failed over Winter Flu Vaccines

10.00.12pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 22nd Nov 2005

"The government should have made sure there were enough emergency supplies and monitored take up of the vaccine through the autumn."

Responding to the government's statement on the shortage of winter flu vaccines, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Steve Webb MP said "The Government's response is simply not good enough. Promising extra supplies in January will leave frail elderly people at risk over the next two months." Northgate Liberal Democrat Councillor Linda Seekings added "With nearly 15% of Crawley's population over 65 it's potentially going to be a major problem here for the elderly and vulnerable"

Winter flu kills over 10,000 people a year. Gaps in coverage among vulnerable groups could be a matter of life or death. Steve Webb MP went on to say "It is always the same story. When things go well the Health Secretary claims the credit. When they go wrong she blames the local health service. It is time Ministers took responsibility when problems occur within the NHS."

"The government should have made sure there were enough emergency supplies and monitored take up of the vaccine through the autumn. They have failed on both counts. If a vulnerable elderly person plucks up the courage to go and is turned away can we be confident that when the supplies come through they will come back? Ministers must make every effort to restore public confidence in the flu vaccination scheme."