Island relies on H1N1 vaccine until new flu jabs arrive

It could be weeks before the Isle of Man receives an all-important delivery of seasonal flu vaccination.

In the meantime the government is relying on stocks of the old swine flu vaccine, 3000 doses of this were released last week.

But Health bosses insist there is no vaccine shortage on the island yet.

Dr Parameswaran Kishore from Public Health said: “We might not get new supplies in time so we’re using the swine flu vaccine to fill the gaps.”

Shelf life

Health officials have taken the action in the light of news across the British Isles which indicates that flu deaths figures have risen to more than 50.

Some island pharmacies have now run out of the seasonal flu vaccine.

Dr Kishore added: “There is a mis-match between supply and demand in some areas at the moment. Some places have it, others don’t- but there’s not an island-wide shortage. “The problem is that there may not be anymore vaccine coming for the next few weeks.”

The vaccine, know as Pandemrix, was stockpiled in 2009 but has a shelf life until the end of 2011.

Pregnant women

It only protects against the swine flu strain, just one of three circulating this winter, but as swine flu is the dominant strain in circulation the government has said it is the best option available.

“The vaccine is particularly appropriate for pregnant women since their increased risk of complication is confined to the H1N1 virus and Pandmrix also provides protection for the newborn,” said Dr Kishore.

The remaining doses of the seasonal flu vaccine will continue to be available to the over 65s and other high risk groups.

This kind of scare over vaccine shortages is unheard of, as GPs initially struggled to persuade people to get the jab at all.

Surge in demand

Back in October we were telling people who were in the risk categories to make an appointment to get the vaccine,” continued Dr Kishore.