Shortage of influenza vaccines will not threaten free access for pregnant women and the elderly

A shortage of flu vaccines at the national level will not affect the portfolios of the most vulnerable in the country.

A spokesman for Pharmac confirmed Things influenza vaccines will remain free for eligible individuals, despite declining supply across the country.

Pharmac and the Ministry of Health advised general practitioners – who have received the full stock of vaccines – to limit vaccinations to those most at risk, including pregnant women and the elderly.

In addition to the immunization priority, those who belong to these demographic categories are eligible for free vaccination because of the current funding system.

READ MORE:
* Children forget to get the flu shot after the arrival of 1.3 million doses
* Medication unlikely to receive flu shots before the end of the season
* Strong admissions of influenza in Nelson-Marlborough, vaccine shortage
* Influenza vaccines are limited because national stocks will soon run out
* Three deaths from influenza in New Zealand this season – making it a killer

According to the criteria of Pharmac, people eligible for funded immunization include: pregnant women, people aged 65 and over, children under 4 years old with severe breathing problems and people with severe asthma , heart disease, diabetes and other serious conditions that may be susceptible to the virus.

Lisa Williams, Director of Pharmac Operations, said in a statement: "We need to focus on the most at-risk groups, such as pregnant women."

However, despite the distribution of all vaccines to suppliers, all "more at risk" will not have access to them.

Barbara McArdle, national influenza coordinator at The Immunization Advisory Center, said practices across the country have been asked to provide the center with the number of flu vaccines she currently has.

McArdle said pregnant women were probably at the top of the list of people needing immunization. She added that it was important for these women, no matter which trimester they were in, to get in touch with their doctor.

Vaccines for pregnant women "finally protected two people" – mother and baby – and offered protection to the baby after birth, McArdle said.

For those who are not eligible for funded immunization, the purchase costs between $ 25 and $ 45.

WHY IS THERE A NATIONAL SHORTAGE?

This year, increased demand has led to an early shortage across the country.

The current distribution – 1.29 million at the time of publication – was the highest number of vaccines distributed so early in the winter, according to Williams.

This accounted for only about 26% of the total population vaccinated only 10 months after the start of the cold season.

This also corresponded to the total doses distributed during the winter of 2018 and was higher than the distributions of 2016 and 2017, according to Pharmac.

A Pharmacy spokesperson explained that the shortage was not due to the fact that New Zealand had fewer vaccines available overall, but rather that the growing number of vaccinated Kiwis was at the center. 39, origin of the shortage.

There was currently no "national stock" of vaccines, and Pharmac confirmed that all available influenza vaccines had been distributed to practicing physicians throughout New Zealand.

"We would much rather have vaccines in the community, rather than stay in a national stock," Williams said.

ARE THERE MORE VACCINES AVAILABLE?

Vaccination requires the correct influenza strain for New Zealand, which means that any additional supplies must come from another market in the southern hemisphere.

Pharmac explained that at that time, it was unlikely that more vaccines would be obtained in Australia, because the demand for vaccines was also very strong on the other side of the gap.

"The demand for influenza vaccine is an international problem." Australia has also experienced a very strong demand this year and, unfortunately, there is no surplus stock at our disposal to be sourced from Australia.

Dr. Hariette Carr, Deputy Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, said the ministry "would continue to work with Pharmac on the possibility of procuring new stocks".