Subsidised flu vaccine distribution on track

27 April 2005

Subsidised flu vaccine distribution on track

People have been getting subsidised influenza vaccines from Tuesday 26 April as the Ministry of Health and PHARMAC stated on Friday.

Responding to media comment on the delivery of the vaccine, PHARMAC confirms that the distribution is on track.

The first 100,000 doses have been distributed, of a total 510,000 subsidised vaccines. A further 180,000 doses will be available during the week starting May 2 and 230,000 doses to come the following week, says PHARMAC Medical Director Dr Peter Moodie.

In previous years, only 450,000 people had sought the subsidised vaccine.

“GPs and vaccinators will have stock on hand to enable them to start delivering the subsidised vaccine, however, not all patients will be vaccinated in the first week,” Dr Peter Moodie says.

“About 75 percent of orders for full strength influenza vaccine received has been delivered, with the remaining 25% delivered by today. The programme runs until 31 July,” Dr Peter Moodie says.

“Information has been sent out to GPs asking them to prioritise their patients so that the highest priority patients get vaccinated first. It is important to give those patients protection first as the campaign is getting underway later than usual this year.

“We would expect that by the end of the second week of May all eligible people who want to have a Government-funded flu vaccination will be able to have one.”

Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr Alison Roberts says any new information will be sent out to vaccinators to keep them informed about the campaign roll-out.

“Both PHARMAC and the Ministry acknowledge the co-operation of general practitioners in this campaign,” Dr Roberts says. “There has been a degree of uncertainty around when vaccine would be available so we appreciate the patience of the primary care sector.”

Vaccines are being sourced from three suppliers, GlaxoSmithKline, CSL and Solvay.

ENDS

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