Children, the sick and the elderly will get first dibs on flu vaccinations after an ‘unprecedented demand’ for the shot sparked a nation-wide shortage.
There has been a 30 per cent spike in demand for the vaccine compared to last year, following a bumper season which led to 1,100 flu-related deaths.
‘Unprecedented demand for seasonal influenza vaccination this year has impacted the availability of supplies,’ Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Hobbs said.
Victoria’s Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the jab would be rationed to ‘the vulnerable’ until there was a stable supply.
Children, the sick and the elderly will get first dibs on flu vaccinations after an ‘unprecedented demand’ for the shot sparked a nation-wide shortage (stock)
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Hobbs (pictured) said there had been an ‘unprecedented demand’ for the shot this year
‘Until we can get the assurance from the commonwealth government there’s flu vaccine available for all… we’re rationing our flu vaccines for the most vulnerable groups,’ she said.
‘They are largely people with certain kinds of illnesses, for the elderly and for young children.
‘But we want the flu vaccine to be available for all and that’s why we have called upon the federal government to get more assertive and organised about ensuring a solid supply.’
She wrote to the federal government last week about the expected availability of the vaccine and has been told additional orders have been placed and are due to arrive in a couple of weeks.
There has been a 30 per cent spike in demand for the vaccine compared to last year, following a bumper season which led to 1,100 flu-related deaths (stock)
Victoria’s Health Minister Jill Hennessy (pictured) said the jab would be rationed to ‘the vulnerable’ until there was a stable supply
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant told the ABC the supply of the flu shot for children is not affected, but other groups have been impacted.
In Queensland, many older people are rushing to get a second flu shot amid fears the over 65s vaccine doesn’t protect from a deadly strain of the virus.
More than five million doses of the seasonal flu vaccine have been brought into Australia under the National Immunisation Program but increased demand has impacted supply, federal health authorities told AAP on Monday.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has released 9.6 million doses of influenza vaccines under the immunisation program, state programs and the private market as of Monday.
Of the 1,100 influenza-associated deaths recorded last year, 90 per cent were in the elderly.
Of the 1,100 influenza-associated deaths recorded last year, 90 per cent were in the elderly (stock)