NHS England has launched a campaign to promote flu vaccination to the over 65s age cohort, as part of the annual campaign to encourage the public to stay well before the winter period.
Following reports of flu vaccine shortages in some areas, all vaccines have now been delivered to those surgeries and pharmacists who placed an order on time and the NHS is reassuring the public that there is sufficient supply of the vaccine in stock for everyone to get protected ahead of winter.
The sole supplier of the new, more effective adjuvanted trivalent (aTIV) flu vaccine for over 65s has phased deliveries to cope with global demand and has confirmed it has now dispatched the final supplies for England.
Prof Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England said: “Deliveries of aITV have been going on since September and with all vaccines now dispatched to GPs and pharmacies, we are urging those who have not yet had their flu jab to get it as soon as possible.”
She said that the "current uptake rate in those aged 65 or over is 45.2 per cent so we are keen to see an increase in that figure”.
Prof Cummings noted that around 8.5 million doses of flu vaccine have been ordered by the NHS this year as part of its biggest ever flu vaccination programme, with around one million surplus doses available.