Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on potential links between statins and inhibition of the influenza vaccine.

Jane Ellison

We are aware of two recent studies published in the Journal of Infectious Disease which suggest that the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in people taking statins may be reduced. As suggested by the authors of both studies, there are limitations in the data and design of these studies which do not allow any firm conclusions to be drawn. Other research has suggested that statin use decreases the risk of severe outcomes from influenza.

Influenza vaccines are important in reducing the complications of influenza, and statins are important medicines in patients with lipid disorders and in the prevention of heart attack and stroke. As stated in an editorial accompanying the publications, the findings of these studies do not affect current recommendations for use of influenza vaccines or the prescribing of statins.