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The shortage of flu vaccines to meet growing demand this winter has left “every family doctor in Ireland asking for more supplies,” it was warned.
Ireland’s first formal flu vaccination clinic, established by Dr Mike Thompson, will open in Cork this weekend, but vaccine shortages have meant that activities at the center have already slowed.
The military has erected a canopy for the self-service clinic, which Dr. Thompson says could serve as a model for vaccination centers across the country.
However, he has found access to adequate supplies of vaccines so difficult that he has already been forced to cancel a day at the pop-up clinic.
“We cannot run the clinics without vaccine supplies,” he said.
HSE did not provide additional vaccines for the clinic, Dr. Thompson said, so he and three other GPs working this Saturday will pool their resources to deliver the 540 vaccines they have at the Midleton clinic.
“It is a difficult situation,” he said. “We need big supplies quickly, but we are just getting dribbles, and we can’t run clinics with that.
“And the longer we lengthen it, the more we increase the risk.”
Dr. Thompson has received 190 vaccines in two deliveries, but expects to receive more next week. It has 970 patients who are eligible for the vaccine.
Despite the current shortage, he is confident that the most vulnerable groups should be vaccinated before the peak flu season begins.
“There has been a phenomenal demand,” he said. “Normally we can access private stocks in addition to HSE supplies, but this year none of the local pharmacies have more. The HSE appears to have increased all of Ireland’s shares. “
Dr. Thompson said that while he would recommend that everyone get a flu shot, supply restrictions may make that impossible this year.
HSE stocks have been protected for the most vulnerable patients: those over 65; pregnant women; all health workers, including administrative staff; those with long-term illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and asthma; Children 2-12 years; and those in close contact with someone with a long-term condition.
“Normally we have a lot of guards, teachers, SNA, who come for the flu shot,” he said. “But this year, most of those people can’t get it.
“Breaking that habit is not ideal, but I am sure that everyone who really needs the vaccine will get it.
“The southern hemisphere has had less flu this year and measures like social distancing and hand washing will help, so I hope they provide additional protection.”
Pharmacists can also administer the flu vaccine this season, but Rose Murphy, who runs a pharmacy on North Main St in downtown Cork city, also said supplies were severely restricted.
“It’s crazy, really,” he said. “There is an incredibly high demand, but first we have to vaccinate the really needy, and everyone else has to be on a waiting list. The year he’s in it, we should vaccinate everyone who really wants it.”
the I called several pharmacies, none of which currently had sufficient stock to sell the flu vaccine privately, although one of those pharmacies said that more vaccinations were expected tomorrow and that they could facilitate a private vaccination at that time.
HSE Clinical Director Dr. Colm Henry said 1.4 million injectable vaccines were ordered for adults and 600,000 nasal vaccines for children ages 2 to 12.
“Last year, by contrast, we bought 1.2 million, of which 1 million were managed,” he told an HSE conference. “According to the demand that we are seeing, this year is a greater acceptance.
“I know that there are people who do not belong to the high priority groups who want to take advantage of the vaccine. We buy the vaccine specifically for high priority groups: the most fragile people, people with chronic diseases, pregnant women, healthcare workers – that’s the purpose of the vaccine.
“Yes, there were some supply difficulties in that first batch, as the demand exceeded the initial supply, but we will close those of the third batch, hopefully, in mid-October.”
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