Influenza

Statistical Publication Notice

31 July 2007

Influenza Update 2006/07

INTRODUCTION

Influenza, or ?flu?, attacks significant numbers of people of all ages each winter. Most people recover completely in 1 to 2 weeks, but a few develop serious and potentially life-threatening medical complications, such as pneumonia. This is more likely in the elderly, the very young and people with chronic health problems compared to younger and/or healthier people. To prevent these complications developing, ?at risk? people are offered a flu vaccination, and uptake targets have been set to encourage vaccination.

This release gives an update on flu related activity in primary care, adding data for the most recent flu season (winter 2006/07) and updating data for previous years. Information shown covers two main areas: (1) consultations relating to flu, and (2) vaccinations administered.

Relating to the first area, figures are shown on the estimated number of GP consultations per 100,000 population for flu-like illnesses as derived from Practice Team Information (PTI), for the last four winters (2003/04 to 2006/07), by week. This gives an indication of the timing of any outbreak of flu in the Scottish population.

Vaccination information is drawn from different sources. Overall numbers of vaccines dispensed are derived from the Prescribing Information System, and numbers of contacts for flu vaccinations are derived from PTI. Uptake figures were collated by Health Protection Scotland, based on figures from the Practitioner Services Division and their own sources.

KEY POINTS

During the winter of 2006/07, as in the three previous winters, no major rise in GP consultations for flu-related illness was recorded.
The vaccination uptake in patients aged 65 and over (one of the main target groups) was just over 75%, which is not quite as high as in the record-year 2005/06 (77.8%) but still well over the target of 70%.

INTERPRETATION

Following a substantial review of the PTI dataset , the methods used for PTI data from 2003/04 onwards have been updated. PTI estimates shown in this publication may therefore differ from any estimates provided prior to 27th March 2007.
The estimated number of patients vaccinated per week (from PTI) includes those vaccinated by GPs and practice nurses only, and does not include those vaccinated by other staff (most notably, district nurses), or vaccinated outwith the practice (e.g. through occupational health schemes or in hospitals). Vaccinations outwith the primary care setting are also not included in the figures on vaccines dispensed in the community across Scotland from the Prescribing Information System.

DETAILED FINDINGS

The most recent (minor) flu outbreaks were these in November 2003, when the number of consultations for flu-related illness rose to over 100 per 100,000 population per week in the 0-14 age group, and in February 2005 consultations were over 60 per 100,000 population per week in the age group 65 and over. These peaks are dwarfed by the outbreak in January 2000 that resulted in 300 GP consultations per week per 100,000 population in the 65+ age group.
The total number of flu vaccinations dispensed continued a previous trend to rise to a total of over 1.1 million over the financial year 2006/07.
The estimated uptake in under-65 clinical at-risk groups was under 40%, but this figure is an estimate only. It is broadly consistent with literature findings and estimates from other countries.
Due to problems in vaccine supply the period over which vaccinations took place was extended to cover nearly all of the last three months of 2006 and even into January 2007. Ideally the bulk of the vaccinations should take place in October to offer the best protection.
Practice nurses administer the majority of flu vaccines in general practices. GPs also do a substantial number of vaccinations and, particularly for older people, the contribution of district nurses is significant. Unfortunately from 2006/07 onwards district-nursing data are no longer available from PTI.

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MAIN CONTACTS:

Kathryn Neill
Senior Health Information Analyst
Tel: 0131 275 6581
email: Kathryn.Neill@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

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GLOSSARY:

GP = General (medical) practitioner (commonly known as ?family doctor?)
PTI = Practice Team Information; data collected from a sample of practices in Scotland on face-to-face contacts between patients and practice staff (previous to April 2003 this included GPs only, from April 2003 to March 2006 this included GPs, practice nurses, district nurses and health visitors, and from April 2006 GPs and practice nurses only).

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