Drug company Viatris says it’s running out flu vaccine as hundreds hospitalised

There are major fears a flu vaccine shortage is looming as the country plunges into one of the earliest influenza seasons in the past 10 years, with Queenslanders being urged to get the jab before the end of the month.

A flu vaccine shortage is looming as the country plunges into one of the earliest influenza seasons in the past 10 years.

This month, one of the four manufacturers of the vaccines for Australia notified the federal government it had a supply shortage.

Viatris, which makes Influvac Tetra, for people six months and over, registered a seasonal depletion of stock and warned of a limited availability of the drug in Australia.

A Viatris spokesman said a sudden rush on the drug early in the flu season had depleted stocks which would not be replenished until March.

Manufacturers Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline and Seqirus had not reported supply shortages.

A flu vaccine shortage is looming as the country plunges into one of the earliest influenza seasons in the past 10 years. This month, one of the four manufacturers of the vaccines for Australia notified the federal government it had a supply shortage.

Last week, 4330 people in Queensland contracted a form of influenza, the highest number recorded in the May-June week over the past decade.

More than 16,000 people have contracted the virus across the state since January with Cairns the worst hit with 349 people hospitalised with the illness.

But Metro South, which includes Logan and Redland, registered the second highest rate with 334 people hospitalised with the illness so far this year.

One of the four manufacturers of the vaccines for Australia notified the federal government it had a supply shortage.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia Brisbane branch pharmacist Fiona Watson warned people to get their vaccinations before June 30, when the state government ends subsidised shots.

“I encourage people to get their vaccinations sooner rather than later because it takes about two weeks to develop cover. At this stage we have supplies but we are seeing a high demand so it is possible that there may be shortages,” she said.

“The manufacturers make the vaccines at the beginning of the year and when that is used they don’t make any more until the next season.”

Originally published as Drug company Viatris says it’s running out flu vaccine as hundreds hospitalised