Page last updated: 29-JUL-2008

Influenza Immunisations

ONS kitemarkStatistical Publication Notice

July 29 2008

Influenza Update 2007/08

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. Influenza-related complications can occur at any age; however, the elderly, the very young and people with chronic health problems are more likely to develop serious complications.  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 2007/08) and updating data for previous years. Information shown covers two main areas: (1) flu-related consultations in general practices and (2) flu vaccinations.
 
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 five winters (2003/04 to 2007/08), by week. This gives an indication of the timing of any outbreaks of flu in the Scottish population.
 
Information on flu vaccination is drawn from a range of different sources. Overall numbers of vaccines dispensed are obtained from ISD's Prescribing Information System, and estimated numbers of patients vaccinated by general practices are derived from PTI. Meanwhile, information on uptake rates for flu vaccination is collated by Health Protection Scotland, based on a range of their own sources and also on practice payment data held by NHS National Services Scotland's Practitioner Services Division.

KEY POINTS

  • Patient consultations with GPs for flu-like illness remained at low levels throughout the winter of 2007/08.
  • The recorded vaccination uptake rate in patients aged 65 and over (one of the main target groups) was 74.1%.  This is well over the target of 70%, although not as high as the 77.8% recorded for the 2005/06 flu season (when concerns  about avian flu were at a high).
  • More than one million flu vaccines are dispensed annually in community settings across Scotland.  The total cost of the vaccines dispensed for 2007/08, plus handling and other fees payable to community pharmacies, is expected to reach approximately £5.8 million.
0708 SPN Flu chart
Click for high resolution PDF version of this chart link to an adobe pdf file

INTERPRETATION

  • Estimated numbers of GP consultations for flu-like illnesses are based on data from a small sample of Scottish general practices.  The estimates take into account the age, gender and deprivation profile of the practice patients relative to Scotland as a whole, but other factors may impact on the accuracy of these figures. 
  • For patients aged over 65, vaccination uptake rates are based on data from practices submitting payment claims to the Practitioner Services Division (PSD) of NHS National Services Scotland.  A large majority of practices across Scotland (87% for 2007/08) are included in these calculations but not all; for example claims for payment of NHS Board-run practices are not submitted to PSD.
  • The estimated numbers of patients vaccinated per week in general practices (based on PTI data) 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 general practices (e.g. through occupational health schemes or in hospitals).
  • Information on vaccines dispensed covers primary care/community settings and does not include vaccines dispensed in other settings (e.g. hospitals).

DETAILED FINDINGS

  • GP consultations for flu remained at relatively low levels throughout the 2007/08 season, at less than 20 per 100,000 population per week.  During a major peak of flu GP consultations typically rise to over 200 per 100,000 population. The last time this happened in Scotland was in the 1999/2000 season, when consultation rates were nearly 200 per 100,000.  In the years since then there have been a few relatively smaller peaks in flu consultations.  In the winter of 2003/04 there was an early rise in the number of flu consultations in mid-November, and in the following winter there was a short-lasting peak at the beginning of February. In the winter of 2006/07 the highest flu consultation rates were in January.
  • The recorded vaccination uptake rate in patients aged 65 and over (one of the main target groups) was 74.1%.  This is well over the target of 70%, although not as high as the 77.8% recorded for the 2005/06 flu season (when concerns  about avian flu were at a high).
  • For the 2006/07 season, Health Protection Scotland (HPS) estimate that vaccine uptake amongst general practice patients aged under 65, across all chronic disease groups identified as high risk of developing serious complications from flu, was around 38% overall.  For 2007/08 the overall under 65 at-risk uptake estimate had risen to 44%.  However, since the figures are from a sample of practices only (roughly 60% in 2006/07 and 67% in 2007/08) and do not include a full season's data they should not be regarded as final uptake figures and are presented to provide an indication of the overall increase in uptake since the estimation for the 2006/2007 season.
  • More than one million flu vaccines are dispensed annually in community settings across Scotland.  The total cost of the vaccines dispensed for 2007/08, plus handling and other fees payable to community pharmacies, is expected to reach approximately £5.8 million. Monthly figures on flu vaccines dispensed showed that, unlike some previous seasons when delays in vaccine supplies were experienced, in 2007/08 the biggest peak in vaccines dispensed was in October, tailing off quickly thereafter.  Correspondingly, the main peak in vaccination activity in general practices occurred in October and November 2007.  More than 927,000 patients in Scotland are provisionally estimated to have received a flu vaccination from a GP or practice nurse in 2007/08.  Additional vaccinations will have been provided by district nurses, health visitors and outwith general practice settings (e.g. under occupational health schemes).

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MAIN CONTACTS:

Annemarie van Heelsum (Lead Analyst for PTI)
0131 275 7099
Annemarie.VanHeelsum@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Julie Kidd (Principal Information Analyst)
0131 275 6450
Julie.Kidd@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 (for dates prior 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 onwards, GPs and practice nurses only).
 
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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

Scottish Government Health Department - analytical services division
Health Protection Scotland
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published: 31 July 2007
Next Due: 28 July 2008
Data Available Since: Data go back to various dates within the past nine years.

  • Information on flu vaccinations dispensed and vaccination uptake in persons aged 65 and over goes back to 2000. 
  • Vaccination figures for persons aged under 65 and in "at risk" groups go back to 2006/07.
  • Figures for vaccinations given in general practices and flu consultations with GPs are shown back to 2003/04, although figures of particular note for years back to 1999/2000 are referenced in the publication text.