News
Seasonal Flu Vaccine Strategic Reserve in England (added 22/11/11)
The Department of Health (England) announced that they hold a strategic reserve of 400,000 doses of flu vaccine for use in England in the 2011/12 flu immunisation programme, which can be used as an ’insurance policy’, in case there are problems with supply. The reserve will be available through the ImmForm website only if manufacturers have no supplies available to order. If practices have no stock of flu vaccine or is running out the DH advises the following steps:
- First try contacting suppliers to buy additional stock.
- If none is available, find out if this is temporary or permanent. If temporary, then place an order from that delivery date onwards.
- Work out how much stock is required to meet patient needs until supplies are available from manufacturers, or to the end of the flu season.
- Speak to local colleagues and the PCT flu lead or immunisation co-ordinator to see if any supplies are available locally.
- If the PCT confirms that no stock is available locally, order stock from
the Department of Health website to meet patient needs. Manufacturers advise
the Department of Health on their stock levels and the reserve will only be
accessible when there is no vaccine available to order from suppliers.
Vaccines should be ordered sparingly to help prevent the stockpile running
out. Vaccines will usually be delivered in one to two working days.
