The winter flu vaccine is targeted at vulnerable groups

Scotland's chief medical officer said the country was facing a shortage of winter flu vaccines due to unusually high demand.

The vaccine is recommended for the over 65s and anyone with a chronic illness such as diabetes and asthma.

BMA Scotland said GPs had clear guidelines on who should receive jabs.

In March, Scotland's chief medical officer warned 50,000 people could die in the country in a future flu pandemic.

We currently have a contingency of 27,000 flu vaccines and we are expecting a further 50,000 vaccines shortly Dr Harry Burns Chief medical officer

The Scottish Executive ordered 30% more jabs this year, but there are concerns that demand will outstrip supply.

Dr Harry Burns said: "Early indications are that there is a shortfall in the supply of seasonal influenza vaccine. Information about the exact size of the shortfall is still being collated.

"We will be writing to all NHS boards today to advise them of the contingency vaccine supply arrangements.

Medical debate

"We currently have a contingency of 27,000 flu vaccines and we are expecting a further 50,000 vaccines shortly."

David Manion, chief executive of Age Concern Scotland, said it was "quite probable" that anxieties about a flu epidemic had fuelled an increase in demand for vaccines.

Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, he added: "What's a little more troubling is whether or not they know if the flu vaccinations have reached those people who are most in need.

"If they are saying, as it appears they are saying, that GPs are giving these jabs to the 'worried well', then why do they not know where the jabs are going?"

This isn't a new problem for GPs and there are clear guidelines on who is entitled to the flu vaccine Dr Dean Marshall BMA Scotland

Mr Manion said he did not want to cause panic and a further surge in demand, but urged those vulnerable groups who had not received a flu vaccine to do so.

He added: "There seems to be some debate between the BMA, the department of health, the executive and local doctors about whether the flu jabs have been given to the 'worried well'.

"I wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult an exercise to look at exactly where they've gone and to monitor to whom they're being given."

Dr Dean Marshall, deputy chairman of BMA Scotland's GP committee, said there was no evidence of GPs in Scotland giving vaccines to those who did not need it. He said doctors logged who received the jabs.

Plans are being drawn up for a global outbreak of avian flu

"I don't think there's any suggestion from the Scottish Executive at the moment that that is the case either," he went on.

"We're now giving jabs to carers as well, so despite pretty extensive planning that went on over the last year, we may just be victims of our own success."

He said GPs produced a list twice a year which they forwarded to the executive to show who had received the flu jab.

"This isn't a new problem for GPs and there are clear guidelines on who is entitled to the flu vaccine," Dr Marshall added.

"For many years we have had people who don't fall into these (at risk) categories and they've been told we don't have enough vaccine to give to everyone."

Dr Marshall said the media had probably "fuelled confusion" over a link between avian flu and winter flu vaccines, but in his experience patients seemed quite relaxed about it.