HSE denies 600,000 doses of flu vaccine are missing

The HSE said it is pausing deliveries on more of the vaccines until more information can be ascertained.

The HSE’s national clinical advisor, Dr Colm Henry has denied reports that there are any quantities of the flu vaccine missing.

It had been reported this morning that 600,000 doses of the flu vaccine could not be located.

According to the reports, a letter has been sent to doctors and pharmacists saying of the approximately 1.3 million vaccines administered to date, only 700,000 have been recorded as administered.

Doctors, nurses and pharmacists have to log onto a system to explain why they have given the vaccine in order to be reimbursed.

Responding to some media reports, Dr Henry said that the HSE had held back 50,000 doses of the vaccine so they could ascertain where there were gaps.

The plan was to get doses to the priority groups, the over 65s and those with vulnerable conditions, he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.

“No doses have disappeared.” 

To date this winter 1.3 million doses of the vaccine have been given, which was 20% up on last year, he explained.

It was normal for there to be a lag in time between when the vaccine was sent out and when it was administered. 

The HSE wanted the vaccine to be administered where there was the greatest demand, he said.

“We are getting a mixed picture from GPs and pharmacies. We have to find out who has stock in place.” 

There has been increased demand this winter with over 400,000 doses administered to the over-65s, 100,000 to children and 220,000 to those with chronic conditions, said Dr Henry.

There needed to be “clear blue water” between the campaigns for the over-65s and for the under-12s.

It was far too easy to say that it had been a mistake not to roll out the children’s nasal flu vaccine through schools.

Dr Henry said that the HSE had “ample supplies” of the flu vaccine which will help reduce the risk for all the population.

While he welcomed news of the Covid-19 vaccine, he warned that everyone “must keep their eye on the ball” and continue to practice social distancing, hand hygiene and wear masks until all the population had achieved herd immunity of 60% to 80%.

Distribution of flu jab suspended after 600,000 doses unaccounted for

Michelle McGlynn

8.30am: 600,000 doses of the flu vaccine cannot be located.

The distribution of the jab has been suspended until they figure out what happened.

A letter has been sent to doctors and pharmacists saying of the approximately 1.3 million vaccines administered to date, only 700,000 have been recorded as administered, according to the Irish Independent.

Doctors, nurses and pharmacists have to log onto a system to explain why they have given the vaccine in order to be reimbursed.

As a result, it is unclear what happened to the other 600,000 vaccines.

The HSE said it is pausing deliveries on more of the vaccines until more information can be ascertained.

The flu vaccine has been in extremely high demand this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Healthcare workers have been told to prioritise the vulnerable with any remaining stock.

Independent TD Denis Naughten has called the situation bizarre and unacceptable.

"Enough to cover one in six of the adult population seem to have evaporated," he said.

"The disclosure of this information means that there is 40% less flu vaccine in circulation to vaccinate vulnerable sections of the population when there is growing demand to get the flu jab.

"This disclosure is bizarre considering that last Friday evening Paul Reid told the Taoiseach and party leaders in Government buildings that 1.35m flu vaccine jabs had been distributed but we now find that 50,000 have been held back in ‘ransom’ because another 600,000 have just disappeared."

Mr Naghten called on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to explain to the Dáil how 600,000 vaccines can disappear.