Flu Vaccine To Be Offered Free To 'Millions More' – Are GPs Ready?
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Flu vaccines will be given to millions more people this winter, the UK government has announced, in what it has called “the most comprehensive flu vaccination programme in the UK’s history”. But whether GPs and pharmacists are ready for the huge undertaking is another question altogether.
A free flu vaccine will be made available to around 30 million people, including those on the shielded patient list and members of their households; all school year groups up to year 7; as well as pregnant women and those with pre-existing conditions.
Those aged 50 to 64 years-old will also be invited for a free jab later in the flu season, the government said, but GPs have expressed concerns they won’t have enough supply – or staff – to realistically implement the expansion, especially during a pandemic.
Dr Steve Kell, managing GP partner at Larwood Health Partnership, tells HuffPost UK: “GPs are facing a real challenge in winter with flu/Covid as well as financial and workforce uncertainty.
“Most have been told we can’t order more vaccines and practices are going to have to work out how to deliver vaccines safely.”
There are concerns that Covid-19 will present challenges to delivering the flu programme. GPs will need to take special measures to ensure all patients are safe when they go to get their vaccination – particularly those in at-risk groups.
They will also need to ensure there are enough vaccines to go around. Many GP surgeries had to order in flu vaccines back in January ready for this winter.
Dr Kell worries that GPs will now be scrabbling around to get sufficient stock in place ready for flu season, which can occur as early as October but tends to peak between December and March. “Everyone will be trying to find more,” he says.
If a Covid-19 vaccination is made available for use, delivery of this would also need...
