July 17th 2024

By Ailsa Colquhoun

Wales to move to central procurement of flu vaccine

The flu vaccine for the 2025-26 and subsequent seasons will be procured centrally by the Welsh Government. 

In a statement, Health and Social Care Secretary Eluned Morgan said that when the ordering window opens for the 2025-26 season in September 2024, dispensing GPs and pharmacies will not be required to place orders with vaccine manufacturers.

Further details about how the changes will be implemented will be provided in due course. 

• The UK will become the first country in the world to have a national Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme. Scotland's campaign starts on 12 August, followed by campaigns in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from September 1. Eligible groups include pregnant women over 28 weeks and the over-75s, and a one-off campaign for people aged 75 to 79.