“At risk” over 65s left waiting for flu jabs as GPs run out

Monday 05 November 2018

Over 65s – one of the group’s deemed to be most “at risk” from flu complications – are being turned away from pharmacies or having their appointments to get a flu vaccine rescheduled by GPs because many have run out of supplies, due to a delivery issue.

After one of the UK’s worst winters for flu, new vaccine Fluad was introduced for the over 65s.

Fluad was described as an “enhanced” vaccine that would be more effective in older people than the usual flu jab by improving the body’s immune response.

The States launched a flu vaccination campaign in late September, with a particular emphasis on urging “vulnerable” groups, for whom catching flu can lead to severe health complications or even being hospitalised, to get vaccinated as soon as possible before winter. 

Pictured: Over 65s are being offered a special 'enhanced' flu jab, as contracting flu was deemed to be more "dangerous" for them. 

In the first week of the programme to protect “at risk” islanders, 2,100 adults had the vaccine in their GP surgery or local pharmacy, with more than half of those in the over 65 category.

But as early as the second week of October, some over 65s were reporting being unable to get their hands on the vaccine – and are still unable to now – because many places had exhausted their supply, and more was yet to be delivered. 

It has left some facing waits of up to a month or more to get their jab. 

One islander, who is in her 80s, told Express that she had initially tried to get the jab at her GP in early October. When she tried to reschedule, she was told that she couldn’t be seen until mid-November.

She said she then tried to get a pharmacy walk-in appointment, but was turned away because they had also run out and were waiting for a new batch to be delivered in November.

When she finally receives her jab, the islander explained that she will have been waiting nearly a month-and-a-half. 

Express spoke to four practices that had run out, who explained that the problem was due to the phased batch delivery method used by company Seqirus, the company behind the vaccine.

They said that they were not initially made aware that they would be delivering the stock in separate phases over three months, which means that they have to wait until November until the final 40% portion is delivered. 

In the months leading up to pre-flu season, the NHS advised that GPs and pharmacies allocate their supplies based on their perceived need.

“It has meant a different way of working for practices this year and they have had to be patient and wait for supplies,” Dr Linda Diggle, the States Head of Preventative Programmes, explained.

However, she said that there should not be cause for concern or “panic” among islanders or private medical professionals because peak flu season (December to March) had not yet hit.

“There is still plenty of time for people to get vaccinated. We are now in November so people should expect more supplies of Fluad vaccine to be available in the UK and Jersey over the next couple of weeks… Seqirus is making an extra 400,000 doses of their vaccine available overall.

“We are confident those aged 65 and over will be protected before the Winter.”