'Vulnerable put at risk in flu jab shortage'

A third of GPs say a shortage of flu vaccine has put their vulnerable patients at risk.

This year's flu vaccination programme was affected by a faulty batch from one of the vaccine's manufacturers. It resulted in a delay for elderly people and those with asthma or immune deficiencies in receiving the jab - leaving them exposed to the virus.

In a survey published tomorrow in doctors' magazine Pulse, 200 doctors answered questions on the shortage. A third said their supplier could not provide the vaccine and of those half could not find another source.

They had to try several manufacturers here and abroad, borrow from other practices and ask wholesalers and local chemists. A quarter of the practices affected had managed to vaccinate about half the target group of patients. Others had managed to immunise more.

GPs suggested an inspector should be appointed to monitor supplies. A Department of Health spokesman said: "We bought more than enough extra stocks of flu vaccine to cover any shortfall."