Senior GPs have teamed up to reject rumours of flu vaccine shortages. GPs have explained that elderly patients may have to wait for the new adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine because of the time taken to produce the new vaccine.

Shortages at early autumn clinics have sparked rumours that many people will miss out on vaccination.

British Medical Association GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said patients over the age of 65 should be encouraged to book fresh appointments for vaccination once new stocks arrive.

He said practices were getting three phases of delivery – in September, October and November.

Dr Vautrey said: “Patients, GPs and their practice teams are understandably frustrated by the problems caused by the necessary phased supply of influenza vaccination this year. However, both patients and practices should be reassured that there are adequate supplies of flu vaccine for those who need to be immunised this winter.”

He added: “Those patients under 65 eligible for flu jabs – who receive the different quadrivalent vaccine – are unaffected by any supply issues and should not put off getting immunised as soon as possible.”

Royal College of GPs immunisation leader Dr George Kassianos said: “There have been several reports over the past few weeks suggesting that there is a shortage of the flu jab. However, this is likely to have arisen from confusion over the delivery of the vaccine rather than the amount we have in stock.

“This year, there are two types of injection – one for people in the clinical at-risk groups under 65, called the quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV), and another for our elderly patients called the adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (aTIV), the latter of which we’re actually getting more of this year than we gave patients 65 years and over last year.

“We have been assured that there is no shortage in either vaccine, but the way the aTIV jab is supplied is different just for this year. Rather than being delivered in one bulk order, it’s delivered in stages to GP surgeries over September to November, which is why some patients might be under the impression that in some places it’s run out too soon.”