‘This is going to be serious’: Doctor issues STARK warning about UK flu jab delay

Flu jab: Eligible groups in UK set to be 'expanded' reveals expert

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The delivery of flu vaccines in the UK has been met with a potentially catastrophic delay due to a shortage of HGV drivers. Seqirus, one of the world’s largest flu vaccine companies, said it had told customers about delays of up to a two weeks. Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning, one doctor underscored the seriousness of this delay.

“In the short-term we will have to reschedule, this will have serious implications,” warned doctor Sakthi Karunanithi, Director of Public Health for Lancashire.

“This could potentially be very serious if this issue continues.”  

When doctor Karunanithi was asked what this will mean in practice, he explained that NHS England is responsible for coordinating and commissioning the vaccination programme.

“Appointments will have to be rescheduled,” he said.

He continued: “But the more we delay, the wider the implications. Especially as we want to get more people vaccinated this year and we have expanded the cohorts.”

Flu jab delay – what we know so far

Seqirus, which is responsible for much of the world’s vaccine supply, said it had told customers about delays of up to a fortnight.

The company said it was “working hard to resolve the delay”.

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