Only one in 10 helped by flu jab

LAST year’s flu jab protected just one in 10 pensioners, figures show, amid concerns new vaccinations could run out.

An evaluation by Public Health England (PHE) shows that the vaccine’s effectiveness among over-65s – the age group most vulnerable to flu – was 10.1 per cent. The figure was 12.2 per cent among younger adults, and 26.9 per cent among children.

The failings contributed to the worst flu season for seven years, with 15,000 deaths from the virus, around twice the average figure. Health officials hope to avert such a crisis this winter, with new types of jabs for all adults.

But documents seen by The Sunday Telegraph suggest fears that officials have acted too slowly. GPs are now being told that some eligible patients may not be able to receive vaccines until the end of December, by which time the flu season could be well under way.

Adults below the age of 65 who are eligible for jabs will be offered

a vaccine that protects against four strains of flu, instead of the previous version, which protected against three. Pensioners will be offered a boosted jab, found to better protect the elderly.

However, NHS England did not issue the instructions until February, and around 40 per cent of stocks of the boosted jab will not be delivered to GP practices until November.

GPs have now been told to prioritise those aged 75 and over, and “ideally” to complete immunisation of all other eligible patients by the end of December, PHE documents show.

In evidence to the Commons science and technology committee, the British Medical Association said: “This clearly presents a very worrying risk to patient safety and could put NHS services under further pressure should there be an early influenza outbreak.”

An NHS England spokesman said GPs were given more than two months to order the vaccine and that there was more than enough to meet expected demand. “We expect pharmacists and GPs to get everyone vaccinated before the end of the year, when flu usually hits,” he said.