PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINATION FOR THE ELDERLY

That this House welcomes the extension of the pneumococcal immunisation programme for older adults to all those over 75 years of age from April 2004 and over 65 from April 2005; recognises that pneumococcal infection causes a broad range of diseases in older people, including serious pneumonia, which is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics worldwide; welcomes also the commitment to an on-going surveillance of the effectiveness of the immunisation programme; and calls on the Government to ensure that the benefits of immunisation are extended equally to all areas of the UK.