Delays will affect flu vaccine provision in Scotland
Saturn Stills/Science Photo Library
Influenza vaccine orders will be delayed because of manufacturing
problems |
Community pharmacists in Scotland are being advised to work closely with GPs in order to minimise the effect of delays with influenza vaccine production.
Problems with manufacturing this year’s vaccine mean that deliveries,
which normally start in September, will be significantly delayed. Previously
arranged delivery dates have been cancelled with manufacturers now dividing
orders up into several part-deliveries. Pharmacists are expected to receive
the first vaccine deliveries in early October, with the bulk of the orders
arriving in late October and early November. However, deliveries will
not be completed until the middle of December.
Harry McQuillan, chief executive officer, Scottish Pharmaceutical General
Council, said: “It is vital for pharmacists to liaise with GPs
about delivery of flu vaccines. GPs need to know the dates of delivery
and the quantity of vaccine expected so they can organise clinics accordingly.”
Mr McQuillan said that Scotland’s chief medical officer is writing
to GPs about the delays this week. The letter will stress that community
pharmacists are GPs’ main point of contact for vaccine delivery
information. He added that the SPGC has discussed the delays with the
Influenza Vaccine Monitoring Group.
“
The IVMG requested that pharmacists do not favour one practice over another
when initial deliveries are made. In addition, the group asked pharmacists
and GPs to honour existing orders and not to attempt to source additional
supplies from elsewhere since this can create a problem with redistributing
vaccines at a later date,” he explained.
Timing of vaccination
A study
published in Preventive Medicine (2006;43:71), suggests that in
countries where influenza
generally peaks between December and March, vaccines administered
after mid-November might be less beneficial.
Researchers looked at data from 68,166 high-risk patients in Israel
aged 55 years and above who were immunised against influenza between
October and November 2003.
Although patients vaccinated in late November were significantly younger
and had a lower burden of illness compared with those vaccinated in
early October,
the researchers found that they had higher rates of hospital admission and
longer hospital stays the following winter. They also had an increased
risk for all-cause
mortality (relative risk 1.78, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.13–2.80),
say the researchers. |
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