Flu and Brexit

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

As if things weren't bad enough, we are going to be in a real prickly flu wise if No Deal goes through.
Flu vaccines for vulnerable groups will be delayed until after 31st oct (for non brexit reasons according to this article) That runs smack into the time when there will be problems with transport if we go No Deal.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49487770

Do we think this will affect the school vaccine program? My kids usually get the nasal spray at school around mid November. Is this likely to be delayed?

I’ve been trying to decide whether to book my 11 year old in to be done privately - I know boots will do it for £12.99, and I should qualify for a NHS vaccine, but is it worth trying to get the younger children done privately too?

Is there anywhere that will give the vaccine to under 11s? Or are we going to have to wait for the school vaccines?

Do Boots do under 18s?

www.medicaleconomics.com/news/some-flu-shot-shipments-will-be-delayed They aren't worried about a delay in the same way in the States.

Scaremongering again. Like with insulin

@EveLevine I’d book your kids in. One way to look at it is get your kids cleared and out of the way to leave those resources for people who can’t afford to pay out of pocket.

Sounds like there may be issues with the nasal spray anyway according to BadKitten's link

It isn't scaremongering to say there may well be issues already related to flu vaccines for this upcoming season, there clearly will be some as a result of the delay in deciding which strains make the mix. Needs to be the right ones otherwise no point in the vaccine at all. It isn't scaremongering to say that there may be some bumps in the road if the UK leaves with no deal in 63 days and these bumps will be bumpy for transport especially, anything that needs transporting will therefore also be effected by the bumpiness.
Hopefully someone in the Government realised as soon as the new exit date was announced, how having it at the start of the flu season might have unfortunate implications for the NHS and anyone unfortunate enough to need a bed during this time. Honestly I think someone somewhere has probably sent an email or written a report and anyone with any real power has gone 'yeah, whatevs' and deleted it.
Half the number of beds available, add in a ageing population and a reduction in funding, then add in the possibility that NHS staff are not going to get vaccinated in a timely fashion this winter and we are talking about winter pressures from hell. This will of course suit those whose main aim is to privatise the NHS.

@OhYouBadBadKitten Boots will do from the age of 11 privately for £12.99.

@JingsMahBucket The problem is 2 of my DC are under 11.

I also have the added complication that last year the school service refused to do my DS, due to his ASD, and I had to wait 3 weeks for it to be done at gp instead. But gp won't give it until I have the letter from the school service stating DS was unsuitable for the vaccine at school.

So ideally, I'd like to book 12 year old in for it privately, during the same week that the younger DCs get it at school, or alternatively and preferably book all 3 in together privately at the same time - but I can't find anywhere yet that will do until 11s.

@EveLevine , that's handy to know. DH and I get them "free" because I have MS and he has mild asthma. I was thinking about dd (12) - bribery might be required.
I think last year I paid for myself at a pharmacists because it was more convenient.

@bellinisurge Boots are taking bookings now, and will do NHS ones according to their website if you qualify for one, which you should. If you book your dds appointment before 10th September, it’s 10% off.

I should also qualify, as I’m over 18 and receive carers allowance.

Here’s the link for anyone who wants the info, unfortunately it only covers England and Wales.

www.boots.com/health-pharmacy-advice/vaccinations/flujab

Thank you @EveLevine

Did I mishear?

I though the NHS programme was starting as planned, but deliveries after 1 Nov might be delayed (it's all ordered in advance, but shipments are staggered through the whole season it's offered)

So the vulnerable (who usually go in as soon as it becomes available) may well be the least unaffected. It might be rather more concerning for those who become pregnant and therefore eligible for the jab somewhat later in the season

There is a worldwide delay of about a month due to the WHO hanging fire before deciding the final strains being included. So this could combine with medicine shortages post Brexit to create a shortage. From what I've read, this doesn't effect the nasal spray for children or the vaccine given to over 65s, but the one given to everybody else.

I though the NHS programme was starting as planned, but deliveries after 1 Nov might be delayed (it's all ordered in advance, but shipments are staggered through the whole season it's offered)

Major flu vaccine manufacturer Sanofi said delays in deciding what strains of flu to use in the vaccine mean over a million doses will have to be imported after 31 October.

^Vaccines are usually available for delivery by the end of August and throughout September, but the delay has had a knock on effect on the production schedule.

These doses - which represent about 20% of imported flu vaccines - are specifically intended for under-65s in at risk groups (such as disabled people and their carers) as well as healthcare professionals, who are routinely exposed to the virus.

^The government said it was "working closely with vaccine suppliers to ensure they have robust contingencies in place".

"What we can see is we're likely to not have enough flu vaccine, we are likely not to have the flu vaccine coverage that we've had in previous years, and that is likely to have an impact on the NHS," Prof Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, exclusively told Newsnight.^

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49487770

@EveLevine , booked mine and dh's already at local Boots who may or may not be joined up enough with local GP to know we get free ones. But happy to pay.
Dd (12) had refused because she hates needles but we would have to book on site anyway so plenty of time.

Sanofi's statement:

'The company anticipates roughly a one-month delay in the first shipment of the vaccine, with shipments beginning in mid-August'

Some will surely be here in time for the start of the programme?

They also said:
"delays in deciding what strains of flu to use in the vaccine mean over a million doses will have to be imported after 31 October"

This needs to be put into the context of 6.8 million under-65s being having the shot at their GP last season. It's 13.8 million if you count over-65s jab too.

The overall order will be front-loaded, as there is more demand in first weeks on the programme, and that will already be arriving.

I don't know where to look for numbers accessing jabs from providers other than NHS. There might be greater shortages there, because although I can see the Government arranging special medical shipments for the NHS, I doubt there will be much if any priority for private suppliers.

From the op's link;

"A spokesperson for the company (Sanofi), Hugo Fry, said that in case all the ports were booked after 31st October, the firm has doubled its efforts to make sure it has booked space on aircraft as well as ferries."

Well, as we know, air freight is very cheap and in no way adds an extra cost to the NHS which could be spent on better things.