Slow start to flu jabs as GPs wait for supply

GPs in some parts of the country have started vaccinating against the flu but others are still waiting for supplies of the vaccine.

Yesterday marked the official start date of the vaccination programme for some groups, but many GPs in the South Island, Hawkes Bay and Auckland are known to be waiting for vaccine to arrive.

A spokesman for Merck Sharp and Dohme said all GPs should have the Vaxigrip vaccine, for use among the "healthy" population under 65, by the end of the week.

Opposition MPs have criticised the delays and say Health Minister Annette King is "playing Russian roulette" with the lives of vulnerable people.

But Pharmac and the Ministry of Health say distribution of all vaccines, including the full-strength vaccines, is on track.

Dr Peter Foley, chairman of the Medical Association's GP council, said GPs had been inundated with calls and were having to explain to those over 65 that they must wait until next week for their vaccination.

"Next week the issue is going to be sorting out who should get it early as opposed to those who should wait another week or two weeks depending on when the remaining vaccine arrives."

The vaccination programme, which normally starts in late March, was delayed after French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur discovered the Vaxigrip vaccine only protected against two of the three strains of flu expected this winter. The ministry said the vaccine provided adequate levels of protection for the healthy population under 65.

Alternative supplies of full-strength vaccine were found for the 400,000 people who qualify for state-paid vaccinations (including those over 65 and those with chronic lung or heart conditions). Vaccinations for this group will start from next Tuesday.

Last week, GPs attacked the ministry for not starting vaccinations earlier, after learning that supplies of Vaxigrip arrived in the country at the end of March.

Pharmac medical director Dr Peter Moodie said that 100,000 doses of the full-strength vaccine would have arrived by the end of the week.

A further 180,000 doses were expected in the week beginning May 2 and another 230,000 in the week starting May 9.

General practices that placed large orders might receive only part of their order to start with.

Meanwhile, two Auckland-based workplace vaccinators started using Vaxigrip last week.

Vaughn Taylor, director of Onsite Health, said the company would normally vaccinate over 2 1/2 to three months but would now have to squeeze that into six to eight weeks, finishing in mid-June.

It had struggled to find extra authorised vaccinators because so many were involved with the meningococcal B campaign.

"Normally we like to be finished by the end of May. It's trying to fit everyone in and keep everyone happy, which is fun."