The new season of flu vaccines for over-65s are due to be delivered on time despite manufacturing challenges, according to vaccine supplier Seqirus.
The supplier, which manufactures the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine (aTIV) Fluad which is used for over-65s, said GP practices will receive all deliveries of the a-TIV vaccines before a potential no-deal Brexit on 31 October.
It said deliveries are already underway and ‘agreed’ delivery times would be met, despite a delay in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) strain announcement.
It follows reports that some flu vaccines would be delayed until November this year after delays to the WHO recommendation on flu vaccines, after it took more time to adjust to the key strains in circulation.
Supplier Sanofi Pasteur indicated proposals to phase some of the deliveries of the inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccines for at-risk demographics, with some to be delivered by the end of November.
Last year practices were told they would receive their stock of aTIV in a phased manner over three months – with 40% delivered in September, 20% in October and 40% in November.
Due to the delay, a temporary relaxation in regulations was put in place to enable GP practices and pharmacies to swap flu vaccine stocks.
UK country head at Seqirus Helen Concilia said: ‘The swift change over to aTIV for the entire 65 plus population across the UK last season was a complex operation for all of us working on the front line of influenza prevention.
‘However, the hard work from GPs, practice nurses and practice managers was effort well placed as aTIV appears to have significantly reduced the risk of influenza and medical visits in older adults in 2018-19, as highlighted by recent Public Health England data.’
