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The UK health service will suspend vaccination of people aged 49 and under, due to a significant shortage of vaccine supplies.
In a letter sent to the leaders of the vaccination project, the NHS says it has been informed of a significant reduction in weekly supply from manufacturers as of the week beginning March 29.
It says the supply shortage is expected to last about four weeks, as a result of which “volumes for the first few doses will be significantly limited.”
Only the UK has followed a 12 week dosing interval for Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines licensed in the country.
The increased vaccination schedule in January and February means that the number of people requiring a second dose will double from early April, and the NHS has mandated that this cohort be given priority for the supply of available vaccines.
This means that new bookings will not be accepted for people aged 49 and under unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as clinical vulnerability or employment in the health service or as caregivers.
The health service has instructed vaccination centers to prioritize “short-lived stocks (vaccines close to their expiration date) to avoid waste; establish reserve lists of people who could be vaccinated; and share stocks longer life span between regional units so that supply and demand are better met.
The letter reads, “As of today, the supply restriction means that vaccination centers and local vaccination services run by community pharmacies must close unfulfilled stocks beginning the week beginning March 29 and ensure that no more appointments will be loaded in the national reservation system or in the local reservation systems from April 1 to 30 “.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told a Downing Street news conference that the nation was “on track” to meet the goal of offering a first dose to everyone over 50 by April 15.
Local health leaders have been told to focus their efforts on the highest priority groups in the NHS letter, signed by Dr Nikita Kanani, NHS England Medical Director for Primary Care, and Emily Lawson, Business Director .
They may also need to redeploy staff working at vaccination centers to other settings to try to increase acceptance among priority groups, it adds.
“The Government Vaccine Working Group has now notified us that there will be a significant reduction in the weekly supply available from manufacturers beginning the week beginning March 29, which means that volumes for the first doses will be limited. significantly, “the letter says.
“Now they predict that this will continue for a period of four weeks, as a result of reductions in the national supply of incoming vaccines.”
The letter adds that inviting people who are not in the top nine priority groups to jab is “only permissible in exceptional circumstances.”
It adds: “People 49 and younger should not be offered the vaccine unless they are eligible through a higher cohort because they are, for example, clinically vulnerable, unpaid caregivers, or first-rate health and care workers. line”.
The ministers have pledged to offer a vaccine to all adults by the end of July.
When asked about the issue at the Downing Street coronavirus briefing, Hancock said: “The supply is always uneven and we are on track to deliver the offer that everyone 50 and older will be able to get vaccinated by the 15th. April I recommit to that today.
“We are committed to all adults being able to receive the jab by the end of July and we are on track to meet that commitment.”
He added: “We regularly send technical letters to the NHS to explain the ups and downs of the supply in the coming weeks and what it refers to is one of those standard letters.
He said he would focus on vaccinating the most vulnerable before moving on to those over 40.
Additional reports: PA
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