Health secretary insists there is enough stock of flu vaccine

Health Secretary Neil Gray has insisted there are "adequate stocks" of the flu vaccine amid a "challenging" strain of the illness.

Gray told the BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast programme that the current strain is causing significant illness and urged those eligible to get the vaccine.

He said over a million adults, and 400,000 children, received the flu jab between September and November.

It comes as official figures show flu cases across Scotland jumped by 45% in a week, rising from 555 to 805 laboratory-confirmed cases.

The health secretary said: "We have no concern on vaccination supplies across Scotland," adding there is more than "adequate stocks" of the jab.

He added: "The challenge we face this year is the early and fast rise of flu cases.

"We know that the vaccine does stop hospitalisations, it does have a good effect at suppressing both the illness that people suffer and the spread, so my encouragement has been for people that are eligible to pick up the vaccine to do so."

A spokesperson for Community Pharmacy Scotland said members were seeing increased demand for private flu vaccinations, and some were "out of stock".

They added that some people who are eligible for the NHS vaccine are turning to community pharmacies to get their jab "sooner or more conveniently", which is "putting pressure on private stocks".

As of 23 November, more than one million adults had received the flu vaccine, giving the country an overall uptake tare of 42.9%.

But there are concerns than some groups that are at risk of becoming seriously unwell with flu have very low vaccine uptake.

Among those aged 18-64 classed as flu at risk, uptake is just 26.9%, while uptake between older care home residents is 79%.

In the week ending 23 November, the infection rate stood at 14.5 per 100,000 people - an increase from 10 per 100,000 the previous week, according to Public Health Scotland (PHS).

Hospital admissions have also increased from 279 to 391, as has test positivity, rising from 11.0% to 15.8%.

Dr Claire Cameron, a consultant at Public Health Scotland, also told Radio Scotland Breakfast that there is enough vaccine in the NHS system.

She said that he vaccination programme was planned "months in advance" and is continuing.

"We know that in the national programme there is sufficient stock. I can't comment on private pharmacies.

"But, for people who are invited as part of the national programme, there is vaccine there for you and we very much encourage you to come forward to have your appointment and book your appointment if you haven't done so already."

She added the vaccine was doing a "good job against severe illness", despite claims that it wasn't as effective during the current strain.

Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the NHS was in a "constant state of crisis" and was facing a "disastrous" winter and claimed vaccine rates were down compared to last winter.

She said: "With things already at crisis point in October, we are at risk of a disastrous winter if the SNP doesn't act.

"We need a real plan to keep Scots safe this winter and ease the pressure on A&E, including by ramping up the rate of flu vaccinations."

Responding to the flu figures, Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: "With a mounting flu epidemic, the situation is likely to get worse over the winter months.

"Unless the nationalists act now, our NHS will buckle at the peak of winter. John Swinney needs to get his house in order and back our plans to cut bureaucracy, ditch the pointless pen-pushers and surge resources to the frontline."

All over-65s in Scotland, as well as those aged between 18 and 65 defined as being at risk, are eligible for a free flu jab from the NHS.

Those aged between 50 and 64, as well as teachers and prison officers, are no longer eligible. The rollout had been extended to include them during the pandemic.

Children aged between two and five and at school age will also receive immunisation administered as a nasal spray.

Those eligible for an NHS vaccine should have already been invited to make an appointment, but if not they can visit NHS Inform.

People not eligible for a free jab can book one privately via a pharmacy. These usually cost around £18 to £20.

Last year, over 2.1m vaccines were given out in Scotland. This means uptake was around 53%.