GPs in Cork have been informed of “significantly limited” flu vaccine supply ahead of their third delivery due to shipment delays.

Correspondence to GPs from HSE vaccine providers, seen by The Echo, informed family doctors of the limited quantity available for their third flu vaccine order due to take place this month.

“Due to the delay of shipment of flu vaccine to arrive from the manufacturer, the quantity available for order for your third delivery is significantly limited,” GPs were told.

“Please place your order for the amount available to you on the online ordering system.

“Additional quantities are not available for this delivery,” the correspondence added.

“Before the end of October, all shipments will have arrived and more doses will be available in November orders.” 

Delays in obtaining flu vaccine supply have been well documented in recent weeks, with drive-thru clinics and GP clinics in Cork impacted.

In recent weeks, Ireland’s first drive-thru vaccine clinic was established in Midleton to provide the flu vaccine to patients on weekends.

According to organisers, the clinic has the capacity to vaccinate around 28,000 people over a 16-week period but international flu vaccine supply issues have already curtailed its operation.

The clinic had to close at 2pm last Sunday after it ran out of vaccines.

A spokesperson for the HSE said that the third round of flu vaccine deliveries, due to begin on Thursday, October 15, will be reduced due to a delay in the shipment of vaccine from the manufacturer.

“To date all sites have received 75% of the quantity used last season, and the allowance for the third delivery will increase this to 90%,” she said.

“Further stocks will be available for the fourth round of deliveries.” The spokesperson added that the HSE has purchased over 20 percent more flu vaccines for adults this year when compared to 2019.

The health service has also purchased some 600,000 nasal vaccines for children.

“By the end of the second cycle of deliveries this week approximately 800,000 doses of influenza vaccine will have been delivered to over 3,000 sites across the country,” said the spokesperson.

“This represents an increase of 25 percent in quantities of vaccine delivered when compared with last year.