INFLUENZA immunisation rates in St Helens failed to meet the national targets for every demographic, a new report has revealed.

A St Helens CCG immunisation and screening performance report was discussed by St Helens Council’s health and adult social care overview and scrutiny panel on Monday.

The report revealed that the CCG failed to hit any of its national flu immunisation targets with its “Give it your Best Shot” flu programme, despite concentrated efforts towards pre-school children.

“The key focus of the 2017/18 season was to increase uptake in pre-school children aged two, three and four via GPs, pregnant women and other vulnerable at-risk groups, including under 65-year-olds with long-term conditions,” the report said.

“In addition, building on last year’s success, there was a drive to improve vaccine uptake rates amongst health care workers.”

While there was improvement, the uptake of flu vaccines in the pre-school children category remained the worst performing demographic.

The 2017-18 flu programme saw just 37 per cent of pre-school children aged two, three and four in the borough take the vaccine.

That figure is an improvement on last year 35.1 per cent total but below the national target 40-65 per cent.

The under 65s saw and uptake of 50.6 per cent, a drop compared to last year’s 53.5 per cent and less than the national target of 55 per cent.

The number of pregnant women getting the vaccine also fell short, with an uptake of 51.6 per cent, an improvement on last year’s 49.8 per cent but less than the national target of 55 per cent.

In the over 65s, there was an uptake of 76.4 per cent, an improvement on last year’s 74.4 per cent and above the national target of 75 per cent.

Planning for the forthcoming flu programme 2018/19 has now commenced, the report said.

“The multiagency Flu Action Plan led and co-ordinated by Public Health will be revised to ensure the flu vaccine is available to all eligible populations in particular at-risk groups and that the flu vaccine is widely promoted across the borough,” the report said.

“The potential for joint work with Halton and Warrington is currently being explored in relation to flu marketing and communications and additional opportunities for flu vaccination.

“Work is also being completed to ensure local arrangements are in place should a pandemic occur in line with Merseyside Pandemic Influenza Plan.”