Tens of thousands missing out on flu jabs in shortage
FLU jabs are still not available on the NHS for tens of thousands who need them, a survey claims.
The shortage is continuing despite promises all stocks would be in place by mid-November.
The poll of 648 GPs by Pulse magazine found 69 per cent had received too little of the most commonly used three-strain jab and 24 per cent too little of the less-used alternative four-strain version.
As a result, just 52 per cent of those who should be given the jab have had one so far, compared with 65 per cent at this time in 2017, the poll suggests. This year’s main version of the jab, adjuvanted trivalent vaccine (aTIV), is heralded as the best protection yet.
The flu vaccine is available on the NHS to everyone over 65, pregnant women and those with related medical conditions.
But aTIV – trade name FLUAD – has been dogged by delivery problems despite reassurances from both NHS England and its sole supplier, pharma firm Seqirus, that stocks would all be in place in time, Pulse claimed. GPs and pharmacists, who also administer the vaccine for free, say the planned “staggered” delivery has simply not worked.
GP Dr Marie Williams, from Blackpool, said: “It has been a complete debacle. Supplies were ordered in plenty of time.”
Even patients who do get the jab in the next few days still have to wait two weeks for the vaccine to be effective, leaving some at risk into December, one of the highrisk months.
The National Pharmacy Association said it had received hundreds of calls from pharmacies about flu vaccine shortages. But it added that many other pharmacies have been able to provide an uninterrupted service.
A spokesman said: “The system hasn’t been as responsive this season as it was in previous years, so some people may not have got the protection they want against flu yet.
“It’s disappointing if they have to ask people to wait or go elsewhere.”
Last year’s flu season was the worst for seven years and many elderly people ended up in hospital with complications from the disease.
However last night, NHS England remained adamant that there had been no shortage, only the planned staggered delivery.
It said all orders will have been delivered before next week.
An spokesman said the survey was of little more than one per cent of GPs and claimed that there is “sufficient supply of the vaccine in stock for everyone to get protected ahead of winter”.
The NHS expects to give the vaccine to 7.5million older people this year.
And spokesman for the manufacturer Seqirus, based in Liverpool, said it was on schedule to deliver 9.8 million doses in total.