THOUSANDS AT RISK IN FLU JAB SHAMBLES
PENSIONERS are being turned away from winter flu jabs this year because of “shambolic” delays.
GP surgeries and pharmacies have now been urged to share stocks of the vaccine for over-65s, the Daily Express can reveal.
Deliveries of this year’s adjuvanted trivalent vaccine (aTIV) – a new, more effective, vaccine for over-65s – have been staggered because there is only one supplier.
Many pensioners, especially those outside London, are increasingly being turned away or told the jab will not be available for weeks.
Last night, NHS England said all orders would be available by midNovember in time for the traditional winter flu season.
But on the front line, GPs, pharmacies and patients said people were being turned away when jabs were “needed now”.
The flu jab is available free to over 65s, expectant mothers and those with certain medical conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, heart disease and diabetes.
Anne Shankland, 73, of Winchester, Hants, said: “My GP isn’t offering it until early November and local pharmacies say they don’t know when they will get it.
“Even at that rate, it’s going to take two to three weeks to take effect. So after we’ve queued up to get into a clinic, we will end up being dumped out into the middle or beginning of the flu season.”
One man described the vaccine supply as a “shambles”. Andy McKay, 67, who lives near Carlisle, said: “We were met at the door of the practice. Staff said there was no vaccine, so the session was cancelled. Another wrote: “So Theresa May, are you killing the elderly off?”
Boots confirmed there was a “national shortage” of the vaccine and Lloyds Pharmacy temporarily suspended its vaccination service following a “misinterpretation” of NHS guidance. Leyla Hannbeck of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said: “This is disappointing for pharmacists, who pride themselves on providing an extremely convenient service.”
GP Rosemary Leonard said: “When I hear the Health Secretary and NHS England saying there is no shortage, I say, ‘Yes there is’. Jabs are needed now.” Shortages were causing rising concern among health organisations last night.
Last year’s flu season was the worst for seven years and many elderly people ended up in hospital.
This year the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency called on aTIV supplies to be shared between GP practices and pharmacies. Normally, medication
can be passed between providers only where a wholesaler licence exists.
Andrew Green of the General Practitioners Committee, said: “This is welcome guidance to allow some flexibility in distribution.
“However, practices using this must be careful to follow it in its entirety in order to ensure their arrangements will stand scrutiny.” Seqirus, which makes aTIV, said there was still enough of the vaccine to meet anticipated demand this winter. But it admitted it had experienced “some processing challenges during the ordering period due to the sudden high volume of requests”.
NHS England said last night: “GPs and pharmacists were given more than two months to order the vaccine. There is more than enough to meet expected demand and what’s more, older people will be better protected this year than ever before as they will be offered the most effective jab available.
“We expect pharmacists and GPs to get everyone vaccinated before the end of the year.”