By Ben Gillman
The Department of Health is expecting GPs to immunise 60% of the under-65 clinical risk groups against flu by 2011/12.
The current seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in clinical risk groups aged under-65 is currently 51.6%, but the Department of Health said it now expects GPs to rise the uptake to at least 60%.
A Department of Health circular said: ‘This continues the steady improvement in vaccination of this group over the last few years that should be built upon in coming seasons.
‘Based on the progress achieved, it is reasonable to expect that coverage in the clinical risk groups should reach this new target by 2011/12.'
The national policy also now includes pregnant women who are not in a clinical risk group and have not previously received the vaccine.
Flu vaccination