The GPC is urging GPs to review the amount of flu vaccine they are ordering this year, after reports that practice stocks may not be sufficient.
The warning comes after last year's media debacle over localised shortages of the vaccine, which resulted in 'local supply issues' and media reports that some patients could not get flu jabs.
A letter from the Chief Medical Officer on 14 March to GPs confirmed that the arrangements for the procurement of jabs for the 2011/12 programme would be the same, and practices should place orders with manufacturers as soon as possible.
In a newsletter last month, the GPC said if they have not already done so practices should start ordering supplies now. It also revealed that the GPC had been told that practices were not increased their orders despite the negative media coverage over this winter's shortages.
'We have been informed that so far, practices have not increased their vaccine orders to take into account the localised shortages experienced last winter, and despite a rising number of patients in the at-risk groups.'
'We would encourage practices to review their flu vaccine orders, to ensure that they have ordered sufficient numbers of vaccines for their patients in the at-risk groups,' says the newsletter.
GPC warns practices to review flu vaccine orders
