Flu vaccine deliveries ‘need to be prioritised’

A Department of Health official has said that GPs may need to prioritise the delivery of flu vaccines because of a delay in their delivery.

Dr David Salisbury, a spokesman for the department, said that those most at risk from contracting the disease need to be targeted for vaccination first, as some surgeries might not receive delivery of the vaccines until December

Prioritisation of existing stocks is “the most important issue”, he told BBC One’s Six O’Clock News.

Dr Salisbury said: “We have given the information to practices, we really hope they will follow that and get the risk patients done first.”

Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, said he was “very disappointed” by the delay in vaccine delivery.

Speaking on Sky News, Mr Lansley said that it was “very worrying” that the Department of Health assumes that there won’t be an influenza outbreak until January, even if this has been the case in previous years.

“The flu season can begin somewhat earlier,” he stated.

In the UK, vaccination is ordinarily offered free to everyone aged 65 and above, people with asthma, heart troubles or kidney disease, as well as other people who could be at risk, according to NetDoctor, a health information website.