Additional flu vaccines to be made available

Over 60,000 flu vaccines will be available to GPs in Northern Ireland next week, to help treat those groups most at risk from catching the flu.

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety took steps to source extra supplies of the vaccine, following a UK-wide distribution problem.

The additional vaccines will ensure that the flu immunisation programme will start as normal next week. Vaccines will be distributed to GP surgeries which will prioritise appointments, to ensure that those most at risk are immunised first.

Chief Medical Officer, Henrietta Campbell, said: “The Department has responded very quickly to a major problem with the distribution of flu vaccines across the United Kingdom.

“The 60,000 vaccines will allow the vaccination programme to start as normal next Monday. We expect the full supply of vaccines to be in place within three weeks, which should mean the normal flu immunisation programme will not be delayed.”

Ms Campbell said people should contact their GPs immediately and that doctors would prioritise those most vulnerable to flu.

A major advertising campaign will start next week to urge people who normally receive the flu vaccination to make an appointment with their GP straightaway.

(MB/GMCG)