The delivery of the State’s supply of flu vaccines has been delayed by two weeks due to the impact of Covid-19, medical professionals have been told. In a communication sent on Wednesday to GPs and pharmacists, the Health Service Executive wrote that drug manufacturer Sanofi, which is making the vaccine, has “informed us that the release of this season’s flu vaccine will be delayed by two weeks”. “This is an administrative delay due to the impact of Covid-19,” the HSE wrote, and not a production or quality issue. Ireland will receive stock from the first released batches, the HSE said. Annually, Ireland starts delivering flu vaccine earlier than other EU jurisdictions and it is expected that this will also happen this year as Ireland will receive doses from the first-released batches.”“The administration of seasonal flu vaccine will not impact on Covid-19 planning,” the spokeswoman said.

Source: The Irish Times August 26, 2020 18:38 UTC