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Sept 2021

Health

Harrogate district surgeries postpone flu jabs due to 'transportation difficulties'

Published: 7 Sep 2021, 16:44 BST

by Alys Jones

The vice chair of the Royal College of GPs warns that a delay of even a couple of weeks 'is going to have a big impact on practices and their patients', particularly as many have been dealing with shortages of blood test bottles.

Several clinics due to vaccinate people against flu in the Harrogate district have been cancelled or postponed.

One of the biggest providers of flu vaccines to the UK, Seqirus, confirmed delays in supplying the vaccines of up to two weeks due to "road freight delays" and "unexpected logistical challenges including transportation difficulties".

This has disrupted some Harrogate GP surgeries scheduled flu vaccine clinics.

Patients have been advised they do not need to contact their surgeries, as their GP practice will be in touch with those affected.

The Stray Ferret has learned of the following changes. Other local surgeries may be affected.

All appointments at a Ripon racecourse flu clinic on September 10 to 12 have been postponed by three weeks. Patients from a number of practices including Ripon Spa Surgery, North House Surgery, and Dr Ingram & Partners are affected.

Church Avenue Medical Centre in Harrogate has contacted some patients to reschedule their appointments, but is awaiting new delivery dates from Seqirus before confirming new appointments.

The Spa Surgery at Mowbray Square Medical Centre in Harrogate has also cancelled all appointments at its September 19 clinic. An update on the surgery’s Facebook page says the team will be in touch with patients when they can reschedule.

Harrogate's East Parade Surgery updated its website to say it will contact patients if their appointment has been affected, and to reschedule once stock is delivered.

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The delay comes just days after routine blood tests were rearranged due to supply issues with blood test tubes.

Dr Gary Howsam, vice chair of the Royal College of GPs, which is the professional membership body for GPs in the UK, said:

“This is news we really didn’t want to hear. With over 36 million people eligible for the flu vaccine on the NHS this year, GPs need the supply chain to run like clockwork.

“Practices plan meticulously each year to deliver the flu vaccination programme on a mass scale and it is essential that as many people as possible in at-risk groups get their vaccination as early into the flu season as possible.

“A delay of even a couple of weeks is going to have a big impact on practices and their patients, especially when GPs are already dealing with the fallout caused by the shortage of blood test bottles and the anxiety this is causing."

A Seqirus spokeswoman said:

"Vaccine supplies are now beginning to flow out across England and Wales this week and some practices and pharmacies will be able to begin their vaccination campaigns. We are working through various logistical issues and do not expect delays to extend beyond one to two weeks."

Has your flu vaccination been postponed? Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

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Harrogate district surgeries postpone flu jabs due to 'transportation difficulties'

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