Stocks are sufficient say GP practices, despite shortfall in some parts of the country

While parts of the country have run out of the flu vaccine, Hackney’s surgeries have got enough stockpiled.

The government admitted today some areas are experiencing “local supply issues,” after reports some patients couldn’t get the jab from their GP surgery – but insisted there is “no national shortage.”

But Dr Jose Figueroa, Deputy Director of Public Health for NHS City and Hackney Primary Care Trust, said there is no shortage of the seasonal flu vaccine in Hackney, either in local GP practices or the 31 community pharmacies.

Surgeries have two flu vaccines available – the H1N1 swine flu vaccine, and the seasonal flu vaccine containing a swine flu component, which is the one in short supply.

Suppliers have been asked to gather any spare flu jabs licensed for use in the UK from factories across Europe.