THERE is a seasonal flu vaccine shortage in the Island.
The Department of Health has announced that stocks of the flu vaccine are in short supply after the stocks that the Island pharmacies obtained have run out.
GP surgeries have been extremely busy over the last week and have used the stocks of flu vaccine that the pharmacies had obtained.
Immunisation activity in the UK has been high and pharmacists are now reporting that they cannot get any seasonal flu vaccines from their usual sources or anywhere else.
The Island's director of public health, Dr Parameswaran Kishore, has released 3,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine known as Pandemrix.
The H1N1 vaccine can be used in place of the seasonal flu vaccine and will be offered to people aged 65 and over. It will also be offered to people from six months to 64 years who have conditions which make them more vulnerable to catching flu or whose condition may worsen if they get the infection.
To help the current situation the Department of Health has requested that the public do not request the flu vaccine if they do not have an underlying health problem.
Anyone with flu is asked to stay at home until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Anyone who feels they need medical attention should phone the GP or A&E first.
