Australia orders more vaccines because influenza cases increase by 50%

Additional deliveries of the flu vaccine are en route to WA after health authorities have sent over half a million shots up here this year – more than for the first time. together from last year.

A 50% increase in influenza cases and reports from doctors suggesting that thousands of patients have been rejected in recent weeks due to vaccine shortages.

The WA Health Department has already distributed more than 500,000 influenza vaccines. However, in a small survey conducted by the Australian Medical Association in the state of Washington, half of the 137 companies surveyed said they had been forced to cancel more than 1,800 appointments. AMA WA chairman, Omar Khorshid, said the findings of a small overview of the doctors were worrisome and suggested that the number of cancellations was at risk

"What tells us is that the national shortage has affected WA and that it has had a scattered effect" We are very concerned about what's going on in the distribution channels this year, not just among general practitioners, but also at some pharmacies that have remained in the short term. "It's very important that we target the flu vaccine on people who really need it, like those who suffer from chronic diseases, because the flu can be deadly for them. "

the winter, an increase in cases earlier in the year means that the number this case That year is 55 percent higher than at the same time last year.

Experts say the peak is not expected to reach until September.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health said she still had small amounts of flu vaccines for all age groups and that she had distributed enough trivalent vaccines Improved to cover "In cases where improved vaccine providers are out of stock, it is recommended to administer the vaccine to four adult strains," she said. "This formulation has been used in previous years for this age group and covers four strains.

" The department is still waiting for that there are enough vaccines available for s & amp; Ensure that people eligible for the PIN vaccine can still be vaccinated before the peak period of influenza transmission in August / September. "