Health experts in the UK warn flu vaccine will run out

Fear of a flu pandemic has triggered an unprecedented demand for winter flu vaccines and health officials in the UK are warning that the NHS could run out of supplies.

The Department of Health says GPs have been besieged by patients who are quite well but worried and are demanding the flu jab even though it would be useless against bird flu.

David Salisbury, the department's head of immunisation, has apparently written to GPs warning that emergency stocks will soon run out.

It seems the British Government had ordered 14 million doses, more than enough to cover the 11 million people judged at risk from flu, such as those over 65, and younger people with chronic conditions such as asthma.

However many doctors have been requesting additional supplies.

According to Dr Salisbury there is concern that the vaccine may have been used on the 'worried well' rather than the pre-agreed risk groups.

Although there are still pre-ordered doses due for delivery throughout November and December, and the Department is to release its stock from its contingency reserve, it is expected that this stock of 400,000 doses will very soon be exhausted, says Dr Salisbury.

A further 200,000 doses will be delivered in late January, but further supplies are uncertain.

Dr Salisbury has urged GPs not to over-order vaccine and to make sure all their remaining doses were only used for at-risk groups.

The British Medical Association (BMA) was quick to say there was no evidence that doctors had been using the vaccine inappropriately.

Laurence Buckman, deputy chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, says that the average annual uptake of 70 per cent of eligible NHS patients had been exceeded this year, which is noticeably higher, and probably the result of the widespread media attention given to bird flu stories.

He believes there is sufficient capacity built into the supply to ensure those needing protection can get it.