by Steve White, Daily Mirror 7/01/2011
STOCKS of flu vaccine are so low that patients will be given jabs left over from the 2009 outbreak, it was revealed last night.
As the winter death toll hit 50 yesterday the Government admitted there were major “supply issues”.
But critics accused health chiefs of being slow to react and bodging together a combination of old and “DIY” drugs.
David Cameron tried to play down the crisis yesterday. He insisted: “There is a national stock of flu vaccine from the pandemic of 2009 and while that vaccine is slightly different... it does have some of the common characteristics.”
The PM added: “One of the urgent discussions right now is to work out whether that vaccine would be useful. We are working hard to make sure we get this right.”
Of the 50 who have died so far, 45 had swine flu and the rest another strain known as type B.
Many were children or young adults, with five below five and eight aged five to 14. There have been 11 deaths in the last week alone.
The number needing critical care was 783 – down from a peak of 850.
And last night there were growing fears for the very young.
Supplies of Tamiflu in liquid form – suitable for babies – are running seriously low in some areas.
In a letter to GPs and pharmacists the Government’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Dr Keith Ridge said a “multi-layered approach” was being adopted to ensure the supply of medicines for children under one.
He added: “It may also be possible for a pharmacy to prepare a solution suitable for administration to children from Tamiflu capsules.”
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society last night defended the practice as perfectly normal.
But Shadow health secretary John Healey claimed it amounted to “DIY drugs”.
He said: “The new figures on cases of flu slowing down are encouraging but I fear that we’re not over the worst of it because most of Britain has only returned to work or school this week.”
Mr Healey slammed the Government for being slow to react and not giving out enough information to the public.
“The Health Secretary has to sort this out. Many parents are confused about how best to protect their children.
“The Government must now back up the efforts of GPs in targeting those most at risk, ready to give vaccines to those under five if things get worse – and be ready to sort out local shortages.”
Vaccines are ordered directly by GPs and more than 14 million doses were delivered to UK practices this winter.
Until early December there seemed to be plenty in the system, but doctors have reported a huge increase in demand following the recent deaths.
Dr Clare Gerada, of the Royal College of GPs, insisted GPs had not under-ordered. She said: “There’s no point stockpiling vaccine that’s not going be used.
“The problem is that many people who were not on our list may have come out of the woodwork – for example carers who may not have realised that they were eligible for the jab. Also, there are people who refused the jab in October who might now be coming forward.”
Thousands of operations have been cancelled because hospitals have been hit with an influx of flu patients.
The NHS says it is preparing to increase the number of specialist beds available for treating extreme cases of swine flu.
The treatment known as ECMO – extra corporeal membrane oxygenation – uses an artificial lung to help oxygenate patients’ blood.
On Christmas Eve, 22 ECMO beds were in use across UK, up from five in early December. Four more beds are now being put into action.
A spokeswoman for the National Specialised Commissioning Team said: “This very specialist, high risk, procedure is currently being provided by highly trained specialists at seven hospitals across the country.
“The NHS continues to monitor the situation carefully and we are taking further steps to increase the number of beds available.”
ECMO is normally only used as a last resort in exceptional cases.
But Dr Bob Winter, President of the Intensive Care Unit Society, insisted: “If someone needs critical care in the UK they will get it.”
He pointed out that most of those who have died in the latest outbreak had not had any preventative treatment and urged: “Get yourself vaccinated,”
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