Sanofi Pasteur told C+D on Monday (September 24) that a “recent packing issue” had caused the delays to “some” deliveries of the quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (QIV).

NHS England recommends the QIV vaccine for adults under 65 years in at-risk groups and healthcare workers.

Sanofi Pasteur said it does not expect the delivery delays to prevent any pharmacy from being able to follow the NHS England guidance on use of the QIV vaccine.

“The situation has now resolved and we are doing everything we can to minimise customer impact,” the manufacturer stressed.

“We plan to deliver over 1.5 million doses this week across England and Wales, and should pharmacies require additional QIV stock, we will have some excess stock available,” it added.

“Move stock between locations”

Contractors have previously raised concerns with C+D about limited supplies of the aTIV vaccine Fluad – which is manufactured solely by Seqirus and is the only vaccine pharmacies in England are allowed to offer over-65s this flu season.

In guidance sent to surgeries and pharmacies on Monday, NHS England said GPs and pharmacies are expected to “move stock between locations” to ensure both the aTIV and QIV flu vaccines are distributed to “reflect actual demand”.

“Where a practice has not been able to order aTIV, they should work closely with local pharmacies to direct patients to a locally available source of aTIV.”

NHS England also said that while aTIV is the “preferred vaccine” for over-65s, QIV can be offered to patients in “exceptional circumstances”.

“If aTIV is not available then the first step is to signpost them to another provider where it is available,” NHS England stressed. “In the event that aTIV is not available, and is highly unlikely to become available, QIV may then be offered as a second-line option.”

Lloydspharmacy suspended its flu service for a day last week while it “provided clarification on the circumstances under which a QIV should be administered to someone aged 65 and over”.