CSL to step up flu vaccine output amid rush for flu shot

Doctors, clinics and pharmacies are exhausting their supplies of this year’s flu vaccine, leading CSL to step up production.

Doctors, clinics and pharmacies across Australia are exhausting their supplies of this year’s flu vaccine, leading to the country’s biggest health company, CSL, to step up production.

Medical experts are advising Australians not to panic, saying people have until the end of May to inoculate themselves against this year’s influenza strain.

While the flu vaccine offers no protection against COVID-19, it ensures people’s immunity isn’t weakened from the seasonal virus, making them more vulnerable to the pandemic. Doctors have also advised people to be vaccinated so the health system, already under pressure from coronavirus, is not overwhelmed.

Much of the demand for flu vaccines has arisen in a similar way to the panic buying that stripped supermarket shelves of essential supplies, including toilet paper, frozen and canned food, mince meat and pasta.

Pharmacy Guild spokesman Greg Turnbull said a lot of older Australians who qualified for the government’s National Immunisation Program bought a vaccine on the private market rather than wait for their free shot from their local GP.

“COVID-19 has grabbed everyone’s attention, with people concerned about their health and infection,” Mr Turnbull said.

“A lot of older Australians over the age of 65 who are entitled to NIP stock distributed to doctors surgeries are anxious to get a vaccine so have been using private stock, which has pushed up demand further.”

Mr Turnbull said manufacturers had assured pharmacies that new stock would be arriving over the next three weeks and advised people who wanted a vaccine to register their name with their local pharmacy.

Pharmacies contacted by The Australian said they were anticipating to get more vaccines by late April or early May. Most pharmacies ordered vaccines last November, well before the COVID-19 outbreak, which Chinese authorities reported in late December.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said more than 8.5 million vaccinations were available on the NIP, but “out of an abundance of caution” has ordered more from Seqirus, which is owned by CSL.

CSL chief executive Paul Perreault said the company was stepping up production.

“COVID-19 has also given rise to an increase in demand for the new influenza vaccine, and unlike COVID-19, there is a vaccine available for influenza,” Mr Perreault said. “At the request of the Australian government we will be manufacturing additional Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine doses to meet the increased demand in Australia.”

Australia’s biggest pharmacy wholesaler Sigma Healthcare, which owns brands including Amcal, Guardian, as well as supplying Chemist Warehouse, said it was working with the Therapeutic Goods Association and Department of Health to secure more flu vaccinations.

A spokesman for Priceline Pharmacy, which is owned by the listed Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, said while some pharmacies still had limited stocks available, demand was outstripping supply at many outlets.

“Right around the country, we’ve experienced very high levels of bookings because of the current COVID-19 emergency. This additional demand means some people are experiencing delays in securing appointments in those pharmacies that still have stock,” the Priceline spokesman said.

“Stocks are continually being replenished, but it also gets dispensed quickly, so we encourage customers to contact their local Priceline Pharmacy to make a booking when stock becomes available.”

Australian Medical Association president Tony Bartone Australians still had “the luxury of time” to receive a flu vaccine and could be injected until the end of May and still be protected from the seasonal virus.

He urged at-risk Australians, which include people over 65, pregnant women and those with other health problems, to get vaccinated under the NIP.

“Don’t pay for what you can get for free,” Dr Bartone said.

“Because of the social distancing measures in place, the risk of flu transmission in the community is low. That’s not to dissuade people from getting vaccinated but there is still plenty of time to receive one.

“We have a window of opportunity and what we don’t want to see is the group of vulnerable Australians missing out.”

CSL says it will increase production of the flu vaccine amid a rush for flu shots. Picture: iStock