More flu vaccines are on their way, says leading GP | Local GP and leading health service commissioner, Dr Andy Brooks is reassuring people that more flu vaccinations will be available for those who need them.
This follows a huge, early demand for the vaccine both nationally and regionally with thousands of people having already been vaccinated in areas of Slough, Windsor, Ascot, Maidenhead, Bracknell, Surrey Heath and North East Hampshire and Farnham.
As well as being a GP partner at a busy practice, Dr Brooks is the Clinical Chief Officer of the Frimley Collaborative of Clinical Commissioning Groups, which plan and fund the majority of health services for 800,000 people from Slough to Farnham.
He said: “It’s brilliant that we’re seeing a huge increase in the number of people wanting to be vaccinated and I hope that this continues over the coming weeks and months.
“However, it has meant that some people have unfortunately not been able to get vaccinated straight away, as a few of our GP practices have either used their first deliveries of the vaccine or are running low due to an increase in demand.
“Because of the scale of the operation, GP practices receive their flu vaccines in phases, which means that they do not have all their stock at once. This can be due to a number of reasons including to ensure the safe storage of the vaccine (cold chain) as well as orders being received from different suppliers.
“Flu clinics are therefore being scheduled to coincide with these deliveries, with appointments being staggered or even delayed in some instances with people being asked to wait to have their vaccination.
He added: “I would like to reassure people that the UK has one of the most comprehensive flu vaccination programmes in the world and we will continue to offer the vaccination to those who are already vulnerable and at increased risk from the complications of flu.”
The following sources of information explain more about how flu vaccine supply works and why people may be asked to wait to have their vaccination:
- Flu vaccine supplies and why you may need to wait for your vaccine.
- Flu vaccines and supply for the national flu programme (information produced by the Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health England and NHS England and NHS Improvement)