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Fears As Batch is Hit By Four-Week Delay

Posted on: Wednesday, 28 September 2005, 06:00 CDT

By Natalie Walker

THOUSANDS of Scots' lives will be put at risk this winter because of a delay in supplying flu vaccine.

This year's batch will be up to four weeks late, the Daily Record can reveal.

Health officials say the setback is down to a delay in chemicals being shipped to a manufacturer who supply Scotland.

GPs have been told not to schedule any patients for the jab or advertise the scheme in their surgeries.

People were supposed to start getting the injections in the first week of October but thousands will be be forced to wait until November.

The BMA, who represent Scots GPs, last night warned the delay could have serious consequences for the sick and elderly.

Dr Dean Marshall, deputy chairman of the Scottish general practitioners committee, said: "Usually at this time of year, GPs across Scotland would be gearing up to immunise hundreds of thousands of people.

"However, because of delays in receiving the vaccine, many practices are unable to set up their clinics and are falling behind." Margaret Davidson, chairwoman of Scotland Patient Association, said lives were being put at risk.

She said: "Many, many Scots rely on this jab to see them through the winter. Any delay, especially one as long as this, could result in deaths.

"I hope it doesn't come to that but that is the reality. It's terrible news for the elderly and seriously ill people who get this jab."

It is the second year in a row vulnerable Scots have been left waiting longer than recommended for the flu jab. GPs were left 150,000 doses short after a production blunder. Last year, took an extra two weeks for supplies to reach surgeries.

More than 700,000 OAPs and around 240,000 vulnerable people, mainly those with heart problems or asthma, are offered the vaccine Last year's delay meant that fewer Scots were vaccinated, with just 71 per cent of eligible people receiving it.

An Executive spokesman said: "This year some suppliers have delayed delivery of vaccines by two to four weeks"As a result of this delay, we have asked GPs and community pharmacists to liaise closely to ensure that they have a sufficient stock of vaccinebefore publicising their local campaigns and scheduling patients for clinics."

The spokesman said that some supplies had begun to arrive in Scotland, though most would be delayed until the start of November.

He added: "Although there was also a delay last year, we still managed to meet our targets.

"We still expect that supplies will be in place to ensure that those eligible are vaccinated

Source: Daily Record; Glasgow (UK)

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