Pensioners hit by flu jab shortage as crisis looms
Fears for elderly as chemists and GPs hit by vaccine delay
DOCTORS and pharmacists are turning away elderly patients seeking the flu jab due to a “national shortage of vaccines”.
ELDERLY people seeking flu jabs are being turned away due to a shortage of vaccines.
GPs and pharmacies have been urged to share stocks of the over65s vaccine to combat delays.
Deliveries of the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine, designed for over-65s, are being staggered as there is only one supplier. NHS England claimed all orders would be available by mid-November in time for the traditional flu season.
But Boots confirmed there is “national shortage of the flu jab” and Lloyds Pharmacy recently suspended its vaccination service.
GP Rosemary Leonard said: “It is a real problem.” Andy McKay, 67, who was turned away when he went to his GP flu jab session near Carlisle, said: “From what I gather, they didn’t get any.”
Andrew Green, of the GPs Committee, called for “flexibility in distribution”. Manufacturer Seqirus admitted it had faced “some processing challenges”.