PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINATION FOR THE ELDERLY

Early day motion 1610, tabled 11 July 2002 by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour). Signed by 32 members.

That this House is greatly concerned by the number of elderly people who contract and die from pneumococcal disease in Britain each year and the strain it puts on NHS resources, particularly hospitalisations due to pneumonia; recognises the benefits of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination in protecting the health of the elderly; further notes that it is a very effective vaccine and offers good value for money to the NHS; and calls on the Department of Health to introduce an aged based recommendation so that elderly persons can receive pneumococcal vaccination as they do in many other western countries including Ireland, the USA, Canada, Sweden and Germany.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 8, Labour/Co-operative 3, Independent 1, UUP 1.