Only days into the f lu season... and GPs are running out of vaccine

DOCTORS are already running out of flu jabs – right at the start of vaccination season.

Patients have been turned away from GP surgeries across Scotland without receiving the vaccine after stocks ran out because demand was greater than anticipated.

It is expected to be several weeks before emergency supplies are available to some of those most vulnerable to the illness.

That could prove disastrous if the flu virus – which can lead to fatal complications in the most serious cases – strikes early.

The shortages come after accusations that health chiefs waited too long to secure adequate supplies of the new super-vaccine for vulnerable elderly patients.

The lack of the standard vaccine is also embarrassing for the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland because the campaign urging the public to be vaccinated is well under way.

One official short film, viewed more than 12,800 times online, tells patients to ‘Get serious about flu’.

The film adds: ‘If you have a health condition, get your flu vaccine sorted. Contact your GP practice now.’

However, last night NHS National Services Scotland confirmed ‘much higher than anticipated demand’ had resulted in shortages of the quadrivalent-inactivated flu vaccine (QIV).

It said: ‘NHS National Services Scotland are aware of a much higher than anticipated demand by some practices for one type of influenza vaccine compared to the stock they requested last season.

‘The Scottish Government and NHS National Procurement are sourcing additional vaccine to meet this higher demand.’

It said ‘a small number’ of practices were affected, adding: ‘It is anticipated that supplies will be delivered to practices before the end of October.’

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘In some GP practices they have experienced higher early demand from patients than they anticipated based on last year’s numbers.

‘We are working with NHS National Procurement to source additional vaccine to meet this higher demand.’

The most serious cases of flu can cause infections which may kill.

Experts say having the jab reduces the number of flu-related deaths and eases pressure on the NHS as fewer people need to see their GP or be sent to hospital.

Jabs are free of charge for anyone who has a health condition, the over-65s, pregnant women and healthcare workers.

Last month, it was reported that NHS Scotland had waited too long to bid for the immune-boosting super-vaccine Fluad, by which time it could only obtain sufficient supplies for the over-75s.

The service asked for £4.8 million worth of the drug but could only secure half that amount.

So only over-75s can have the improved jab in Scotland whereas over-65s will get it in England.

Meanwhile, south of the Border, pharmacists have warned that vulnerable elderly people may be unprotected from flu until Christmas due to a ‘cackhanded’ vaccination campaign.

Shortages of Fluad have seen pensioners turned away by GPs.

Deliveries of the vaccine are being staggered due to supply problems and 40 per cent of the 7.8 million doses will not be available until next month.

‘Working to meet this higher demand’