Not enough stock for critical flu jab

It has been reported that some GPs and pharmacies have run out of flu jabs and are requesting that people wait until more stock can be delivered.

Although the government says that there is no national shortage, stressing that there will be enough doses in the coming weeks and months to vaccinate the 30 million people deemed most vulnerable to flu, Boots says it has seen very high demand for the vaccine and has now had to suspend bookings.

The pharmacy said it had increased its order of flu jabs by around a fifth in anticipation of a very busy period, but the level of demand it had seen in the last few weeks was unprecedented.

Available stocks are being given to the over-65s and high risk groups. Once those groups have been immunised, healthy 50 to 64-year-olds in England will, for the first time, be eligible for a free flu jab on the NHS. This is mainly being done to help protect against the double threat of flu and coronavirus this winter - research shows people can catch both diseases at the same time, with serious and sometimes deadly consequences.

Martin Marshall, who heads the Royal College of GPs, has urged people to ‘sit tight’ and stressed it was important that all those eligible for the flu jab came forward when told to do so.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, said: "It is usual for manufacturers to stagger deliveries of the vaccine. Every year, there is a phased roll-out and vaccinations continue throughout the autumn. Some GP practices and pharmacies may ask people to wait until they receive further deliveries."