70 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent on flu vaccine in this country in the last year for which figures are available; and the total amount spent on flu vaccine through the General Medical Service in the last year for which figures are available. [18841/95]

, Limerick East): Flu vaccine is available free of charge to GMS card holders in the at-risk categories from their general practitioner. In 1994-95, 167,077 doses of the vaccine were purchased for the at-risk categories in the GMS population at a cost of £388,286.97. For the 1995-96 flu season approximately 174,000 doses have been purchased at an estimated cost of £383,000. An estimate of the number of non-GMS card holders in the at-risk categories was supplied by the Department to the Irish Pharmaceutical Union to facilitate an adequate vaccine supply for this group. Expenditure on vaccine by the non-GMS population is not routinely collected.