Sir, Flu vaccine production (report and leading article, Nov 23) is constrained by the need for the World Health Organisation to identify the strains of flu virus that present a risk each year, and the time it takes to manufacture the vaccine. This year one of the chosen viruses grew slowly and had to be replaced with a faster-growing strain. This affected all countries.
In June the Chief Medical Officer notified GPs that there would be delays and provided advice on prioritisation of patients. This advice was repeated in September. By the end of November, there will have been as much vaccine provided to GPs, 13 million doses, as they had by the same time last year.
DR DAVID SALISBURY
Head of Immunisation
Department of Health
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Sir, The most worrying aspect of the UK’s annual flu vaccination chaos is that, if we cannot vaccinate our “at risk” population efficiently and well, how might we cope with the need to vaccinate the entire healthy population in the event of a pandemic? This year’s campaign should have been a carefully planned dry run.
DR RICHARD DAWOOD
Medical director,
Fleet Street Clinic, London