Anger as over-65s face f lu jab snub

THOUSANDS of older Scots are being denied new super-charged flu jabs because there are not enough doses to go round.

NHS bosses have left over-65s in three health board areas without access to the free enhanced immune-boosting vaccine.

It is thought more than 300,000 people in the most vulnerable group will not have the best protection against this winter’s influenza bug.

Last year, the SNP blamed the drug industry when it failed to provide the most effective flu vaccination for more than half a million vulnerable and older Scots.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘How can the SNP get winter planning so wrong yet again? This time ministers have no one else to blame for their total lack of winter flu vaccination preparedness.’

Health bosses say the 11 health board areas which have received the enhanced adjuvanted influenza vaccine Fluad were chosen based on population size and stock availability.

Lothian, Dumfries and Galloway and Lanarkshire health boards are not being allowed any supplies by the NHS this year. They are getting the Flucelax Quadc first cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVc), which does not have the immune booster of Fluad.

This is despite the maker of the Fluad vaccine saying it would have provided more of the shots if it had been asked.

An NHS National Services Scotland spokesman said: ‘The order for QIVc reflected the needs for the whole vaccination programme – not just that of those aged 65 or more.’