BIRD FLU SPARKS JABS SCRAMBLE

Although people on 'at risk' lists should have no problems getting their jabs, practice managers admit there are no emergency or back-up supplies.

They confirm this week's national headline reports which lay the blame for vaccine shortages at the door of Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

On October 17 she told the House of Commons: 'There are adequate supplies available to ensure anybody at risk can be vaccinated.'

But when pressed to confirm availability on Monday a government health spokesman could only reply: 'No comment'.

The Department of Health wrote to every GP this week admitting that 400,000 'contingency' doses had almost run out.

Eastbourne Downs Primary Care Trust spokeswoman Angela Paice said reasons why GPs might have underestimated the amount of vaccine could include increased awareness of bird flu.

A spokesman for the South Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust said: 'The fear of bird flu, we believe, has prompted more people to apply for vaccination.

'Last year the take-up among the over-65s and vulnerable groups in our area was about 70 per cent. This year we expect a higher demand.'

Christine McGhie, spokeswoman for the Alfriston Health Centre, said: 'We have all but run out.

'We have just three doses left and we are holding these for the remaining people on our list who have not come forward.'

'There has been an unprecedented uptake this year, possibly because of the bird flu scare.

'Of course the population is also getting older and this puts more people on the at risk list.'

Mrs McGhie explained practices must register a list of at risk patients with the local primary care trust in March so that vaccine could be ordered.

Sue Henderson, practice manager at St Andrew's Surgery in Southover Road, Lewes, said: 'We have no shortage. We originally ordered 1,300 vaccines and that appears to have been the correct amount, given that most of our patients who wanted the vaccination have now had it.'

Anne Davies, practice manager at the School Hill Surgery, Lewes, said: 'We are not running out. We ordered 1,500 and our supplier sent an extra 200 just in case we needed them.

'We are also initially reserving our vaccines for people at risk.

'We have not had any need to ask for more. I also feel the fear of bird flu has not made any difference to demand at our surgery.'

Angela Walker, practice manager for the Herstmonceux surgery, said: 'A lot more people have decided to take up the vaccination offer this season.

'So far, so good '“ we have enough to deal with all those on our list.

'But many people are not making up their minds until late '“ hopefully we will have enough if they decide to take it up.'