ELDERLY people could face a delay getting their flu jab, amid fears of a shortage of the vaccine in some parts of the UK.
GPs and pharmacies have been urged to share stocks of the new over 65s vaccine to combat delays in it being rolled out across the country.
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Deliveries of the new three-strain adjuvanted vaccine, designed specifically for the elderly after last year’s devastating flu season, have been staggered to allow the one supplier of the vaccine to keep up with demand.
It protects against influenza A and B and contains an adjuvant – a drug that helps boost the immune system.
NHS England said all orders would be available by mid-November, when the flu season traditionally starts to peak.
Those aged over 65, as well as pregnant women and those with underlying medical conditions, are considered “at risk” groups when it comes to the flu – meaning they are more likely to suffer serious complications line pneumonia.
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Boots pharmacy confirmed today there is a “temporary shortage of stock” in some areas.
“We would like to reassure all of our customers that many Boots stores do have stock of the vaccine for over 65a and are continuing to book customers in for appointments,” a spokeswoman told The Sun Online.
“However there is a temporary shortage of stock in a small number of stores which we expect to be fully back in stock by the end of next week at the very latest.
“This will ensure customers will get their vaccination before the traditional peak of the flu season and we can confirm that there are no stock issues with any vaccinations for customers under 65.”
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GP practices were told earlier in the year that they would receive the over 65s vaccine in deliveries phased over three months, meaning they risk running out in between deliveries.
But an NHS spokesman denied there were any delays in the vaccines delivery.
“This year people over 65 will be offered the best vaccine available anywhere in the world,” they said.
“As was announced to GPs and pharmacists some months ago, delivery of the jab is being phased and everyone who needs the vaccine will get protected before December, when the flu season usually hits.
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“Seqirus has confirmed all orders for the over 65 population will be delivered by mid-November.”
The flu jab is the best protection from the virus so it’s vital all high-risk groups, like pregnant women, over 65s and those with underlying medical conditions, receive their vaccine.
“As you get older your immunity fades and therefore you’re not only more susceptible to getting the flu, but your more likely to suffer serious complications,” Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical director of patient.info, told The Sun Online.
“Everyone needs to get their vaccine.
“The vaccine changes every year because the viruses change every year.
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“Every time the virus multiplies there is an opportunity for it to change, and those mutations are what result in problems with flu epidemics.
“Basically, the strains that are most common this year are not going to be the strains that were most common last year.
“That means that even if you were immune to that one, you won’t be immune to this one.”
Health bosses have previously encouraged GPs and pharmacies to “shift around” flu vaccine stock to help manage supply issues, according to Pulse.
Some practices have been unable to secure any vaccines at all, despite being told by the NHS that there are sufficient stocks, and some were told to tell patients to come back at a later date when the jab was available.
This could be because some GP practices and pharmacies had ordered more stocks than they needed.
An NHS spokesman told Pulse: “We expect there to be a level of coordination by the CCGs and regional teams, to make sure where there are supply issues in an area because of higher anticipated demand or they haven’t ordered enough, they can shift it around to make sure people can get vaccinated.”
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE FLU VACCINE?
The NHS offers a free flu jab – but only to certain age and health groups.
Children aged two to four years will be given the vaccine at their general practice – usually by the practice nurse.
Young kids in school years one to three are likely to receive their vaccine at school.
Pregnant women and anyone aged 65 and older are eligible for a free jab.
People with long-term heart or respiratory diseases or weakened immune systems will also get a free jab.
As of 2018, the vaccine for the over-65s has an extra ingredient to boost immune systems.
A jab which protects against four rather than three strains will be given to others at risk.
Boots, Superdrug, Lloyds Pharmacy, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s all offer jabs which can cost up to £20.
However, people can pay for the vaccination privately.
General Practitioners Committee Doncaster LMC medical secretary Dr Dean Eggitt added: “I think this is abdication of responsibility from NHS England which is irresponsible.
“I think they have created a problem which they are walking away from, and are passing it to clinicians on the frontline who are too busy seeing sick people.
“If they want the flu vaccination programme to be successful this year, they need to help us.”
The latest statement from the British Medical Association (BMA) on vaccine delivery said everyone who is eligible will be vaccinated this winter.
Dr Richard Vautrey, BMA GP committee chair, said: “Patients, GPs and their practice teams are understandably frustrated by the problems caused by the necessary phased supply of influenza vaccination this year.
MORE ON THE FLU
“However, both patients and practices should be reassured that there are adequate supplies of flu vaccine for those who need to be immunised this winter.
“While we understand the concerns that patients over the age of 65 may have, it is better for patients to wait to be given the most effective vaccination.
“This year vaccine supplies are being delivered in a phased approach to ensure the supplier can manufacture them safely and regularly, and unfortunately this has meant some patients have been unable to receive their vaccination as early in the year as they have done in previous years.
“These patients should not worry however, as they will receive their vaccinations within the coming weeks from their GP practice or pharmacy, and we would encourage patients to make an appointment for this.”
A spokeswoman from Seqirus, the supplier of the vaccine, said: “We are on track with the phased delivery plan agreed with NHS England earlier this year, including the supply of additional stock that we have been able to make available.
“We now expect to deliver more than 9.7 million doses of the vacine this season, which is well above the uptake seen in the over 65s age group in previous seasons.
“We have delivered about 80 per cent of total doses ordered with more stock going out daily and final deliveries to be completed by mid-November as planned.”
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