Patients will be told when their surgeries have more supplies

The unprecedented demand may have been caused by concerns over avian flu, despite the vaccine being ineffective against it.

More supplies have been requested from the UK, but a similar situation there has led to the vaccine being rationed.

The States' pharmacist said it was not possible to simply order more vaccines from the manufacturers.

Ed Freestone told BBC News: "The companies get their orders in April and then manufacture to what they have in solid orders.

"In essence what happens is they get our orders, schedule the production of the vaccine and then they stop. They can't just turn the plant on again."