Elderly, young and at-risk patients from across the South East of England are being encouraged to go private to access flu vaccinations following reports of shortages via the NHS in some parts of the UK.
Harrow Health Care Centre said that the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine (aTIV, Fluad.) for the over-65s had reported shortages and that this age group, in particular, may benefit from seeking help outside of the NHS.
While the NHS denies a significant shortage of the vaccine, many patients have complained of long delays in getting the vaccine ahead of the influenza season within the UK.
Shortages of the life-saving vaccine within are not uncommon and in 2017 Public Health England (PHE) admitted that vaccines given to millions of patients had little effect against active flu strains – with an effectiveness of 10.1 per cent against common strains for those patients over the age of 65 and none at all against some key strains.
This resulted in 15,000 deaths from the virus last year- one of the highest numbers of flu-related deaths in the last decade.
The PHE and the NHS claims to have reviewed its approach and changed the types of vaccinations on offer this year, unfortunately around 40 per cent of stocks of the boosted vaccine may not reach GP practices until the end of November, with some less at-risk groups not receiving a jab until the end of December, according to some PHE documents.
Dr Jane Woyka a GP at Harrow Health Care Centre, said: “For the most at-risk patients a wait until the end of November could have significant consequences, with potentially life-threatening complications should they contract influenza.
“While there is a perception that private healthcare is prohibitively expensive, small procedures such as a vaccination can be relatively inexpensive and give patients the peace of mind knowing that they are adequately protected against this virus.”
Dr Woyka added that there was a general misconception amongst people that vaccinations are only really required by the young, old or people at risk due to asthma or diabetes, but she said that everyone could benefit from the vaccination.
“Just because you are not over 65 doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get vaccinated. If you work in a position of high-risk such as at a school, within the healthcare system or if you meet people face-to-face on a daily basis you could be at risk,” said Dr Woyka
“Even regular commuters on public transport face an elevated risk, due to the time spent within a confined space with so many other people, many of whom could carry the influenza virus, which can be deadly – even for someone who is fit and healthy.”
