GPs inundated as flu vaccine delayed by two weeks

A delay in the delivery of this year's flu vaccine means that it won't be available until the end of the month, a Cavan doctor has revealed.

The vaccine is usually made available in Ireland in mid-September, however the HSE anticipate the shipments of the vaccine to arrive from the week of September 28 to October 2. No explanation has been given for the delay, but the HSE insist it is not a "production or quality issue".

Dr Dara Hume explained that her practice, Drumalee Family Practice, has been inundated with enquiries from patients seeking the vaccine.

"In the past few weeks our surgery has been experiencing a large number of calls asking, 'When can I get my Flu Vaccine?' The answer is the vaccine is not available as yet and GPs have been informed by the HSE that there is a two-week delay in the delivery of the vaccine this year," she said.

The HSE has explained: 'This is an administrative delay due to the impact of COVID-19. The company have assured us that this is not a production or quality issue. Ireland will receive stock from the first released batches. We will keep you updated regularly when stock is available to order.'

The flu vaccine is available for free for anyone deemed in the 'at-risk' group: those aged 65 years of age and over; pregnant women; have a long-term medical condition; have a weak immune system; live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility; are obese; born with Down syndrome.

The flu vaccine for children will be available from mid-October, according to the HSE. All healthy children aged 2 to 12 can now get the nasal flu vaccine for free.

Vaccines can be administered by a GP or pharmacist.

"This year due to the current Covid-19 pandemic it is expected that the demand for the flu vaccine will be greater than previous years," said Dr Hume, whose Drumalee Family Practice plans to run dedicated separate adult and children flu vaccine clinics in the coming weeks.

"We will commence administration of the vaccine as soon as it becomes available to us and are currently working on a plan for the administration of the vaccine while adhering to public health advise on social distancing."

The HSE advise that getting the flu vaccine is the best way to help protect yourself from getting the flu. They further explain that flu vaccines "usually reduce the risk of infection by 40-60%", adding "if you do get flu after you have the vaccine, it's likely to be milder and you will recover more quickly".

Dr Hume urges anyone in the 'at risk' groups to avail of the vaccine.

"Don’t be afraid of it," she advises. "You cannot get the flu from the vaccine as it is an inactive vaccine, and please be patient – we’ll have it soon."