Pharmacies limit supply of flu vaccine as stock runs low amid record demand

Pharmacies have been forced to limit supply of flu vaccinations as “unprecedented demand” causes stocks to run low.

Boots has temporarily stopped providing the jabs to under-65s, while Lloyds Pharmacy has been forced to overhaul its booking system following a tenfold surge in appointments and cancel some vaccinations due to supply problems.

The surge in demand comes amid a government campaign for people to get vaccinated to reduce the pressure on the NHS during a feared second wave of coronavirus over winter.

Public Health England (PHE) has warned the risk of death is more than doubled for people who test positive for both flu and Covid-19 compared to those with coronavirus alone.

A Lloyds Pharmacy spokesperson told The Independent: “We have seen unprecedented demand for flu vaccines this year. In the first week of flu season we have already vaccinated 10 times more people compared to last year.”

Bookings could not be immediately made through the company’s website on Wednesday, although it stressed “there are enough vaccines available” for those who already have appointments and further bookings would become available in the coming days.

“We are currently making improvements to our online booking to cope with the increased demand and we are asking any new customers to provide us with their contact details if they wish to have a flu vaccination so that we can contact them with an exclusive window to book their appointment online,” the spokesperson added.

Some Lloyds shops have been forced to cancel or reschedule vaccination appointments after delays in the delivery of the jabs.

A Boots spokesperson said: “We know that this year, our customers have been more conscious than ever about protecting the health of themselves and their families, and protecting against flu has been front of mind for many of us.

“As a result, we have seen more people than ever booking early to get their flu vaccinations. We have been closely monitoring our stock levels, and made the decision this weekend to pause taking new bookings for our private and NHS under-65s flu vaccination services. This is to make sure we can vaccinate the patients who have already booked their appointments with us.”

GPs and pharmacies provide the flu vaccine for free each winter to over-65s, people with some underlying health conditions, and pregnant women. 

But the programme has been expanded by the government this year to help protect people from the virus during the Covid-19 pandemic and ease pressure on the health services, with more at-risk people and close contacts of those who have been shielding among those being offered the jabs.  

Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director at PHE, said this week the flu vaccine was “more important than ever, to help reduce transmission of flu and protect the nation from the double threat of flu and Covid-19”.