More time to get flu vaccine

Health workers and the elderly have been given more time to get the flu vaccine, after issues with its supply meant some providers had large stocks while others had none.

Nelson GP spokesman Dr Graham Loveridge said it was ‘‘frustrating’’ there had been problems with the flu vaccine supply to Nelson at the same time GPs were urging their most vulnerable patients to get vaccinated.

While around 15,000 doses of the influenza vaccine was initially delivered to general practices and pharmacies across Nelson and Marlborough, some of it had to be redistributed to make sure it could be administered to those most in need.

Loveridge said they had since been able to order more doses, but were limited to 60 at a time when they were usually able to order a few hundred every couple of days.

The vaccine is currently only available to those it is funded for, over 65s, pregnant women, those with certain chronic conditions and frontline health workers.

Stuff is aware of other general practices in Nelson which ran out of the vaccine after one scheduled day of delivering it to patients.

Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter said on Thursday that there had been ‘‘issues with availability’’ that were being fixed.

‘‘Some providers ordered more vaccine than they were able to administer while others have run out.

‘‘The Ministry of Health are now more actively managing flu vaccine stocks to ensure priority groups can access them and they are going where they are most needed.

‘‘There is no point in vaccines sitting around unused.’’

Genter said there were plenty of vaccines available and providers that did not have sufficient supply were encouraged to contact their DHB immunisation coordinator for more stock.

Ministry of Health immunisation manager Kath Blair said 1.768 million doses of the flu vaccine were available this year. Nearly 900,000 vaccines had been sent to providers and another 300,000 doses arrived this week and would soon be distributed.

‘‘Demand for flu vaccine has been extremely high and we are aware that some practices have already run through their initial orders.‘‘

The Government announced on Thursday it had extended the time that priority groups had to get the flu vaccine, until April 27, after which it would be available to the wider public.