Pharmacy Daily | Flu jab push gets shot in the arm

PUBLIC and private stocks of influenza vaccines are set to be replenished after the Federal Government announced it had secured three million additional doses.

The fresh stock will bring the total of flu vaccine doses available in Australia to a record 16.5 million.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, George Tambassis, said the move would "head off a severe shortage of [the] vaccine at the height of the flu season", with pharmacies witnessing an extremely high level of demand for it in recent weeks, fuelled by concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While flu vaccination does not prevent against COVID-19, vaccination against the flu is critical to protecting the general health of Australians," he said.

"Both influenza and COVID-19 cause serious respiratory illness.

"The combination of both diseases can be life threatening, especially for our vulnerable people - so a flu vaccination is a very wise precaution in 2020."

Australian-based vaccine manufacturer, Seqirus, has announced it will produce approximately two of the additional three million doses of the vaccine announced by Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, yesterday.

Seqirus Executive Director Commercial Operations, Danielle Dowell, said the company would distribute the stock to pharmacies and GP clinics for the private market in areas of high demand, as soon as possible.

"It's important to note that the supply of these additional doses won't be instantaneous -- our team will be working hard to manufacture doses, but patients should phone their clinic or pharmacy ahead of time to ensure the vaccines have arrived and are available," she said.