Thousands of vulnerable pensioners are being told they will have to wait weeks for their flu jab due to stock issues.
Scores of patients across the north and north-east are being turned away due to limited supplies of the vaccine, despite a high-profile campaign to sign up for the potentially life-saving jab.
Earlier this month, it emerged that NHS Scotland had failed to order an upgraded vaccine, known as Fluad, meaning it was forced to prioritise the older age group at the expense of people aged between 65-74.
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However, it has now emerged that some over-75s are being told they will also have to wait weeks to get the jab because of stock issues.
National policy has meant that practices have still to receive the remaining 40% of their allocation, which is still weeks away.
One pensioner, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The Scottish Government has been sending out letters urging over-75s like me to go and get a flu vaccination.
“I have a heart problem so it’s something I definitely need to get and that is why I went to my medical practice.
“When I tried to organise the jab, they told me that they were sorry but I couldn’t get the vaccination at this time.
“My surgery told me there was a shortage of the vaccine for over 75s and that I would have to wait at least two to three weeks for a jab and that it might take even longer.
“You don’t want people to be scared, but this could upset some people who do need the flu jab and it did come as a surprise to me.”
Another pensioner had arranged an appointment at Stonehaven Medical Centre to receive the jab but has now been asked to postpone it for two weeks.
He claimed he was told it was due to a “national shortage”, and was asked to phone back in a fortnight’s time.
The flu vaccine is supplied nationally rather than from local health boards. Practices received an initial 20% of allocation in September, which was followed up by 40% last month, with the remainder expected to be handed out by the middle of the month.
Some surgeries have been warning patients their appointments may be delayed until their stocks are replenished.
Fochabers Medical Practice posted on its website: “We are experiencing significant delays with receiving our 65-74 years and 75 years+ vaccines.
“This is a national issue and we are only able to vaccinate patients with the numbers that we receive.
“We are placing patients in a holding column so that we can reschedule appointments.”
It is estimated that almost 50,000 65-74s across the city and Aberdeenshire have been unable to get the flu jab.
The news comes in the wake of the region recording its highest winter death rate last year, with 495 of the 2,272 fatalities between December and March attributed to the “seasonal difference”.
That compared to a figure of 280 “additional” deaths during the colder months in the north-east in 2016-17 and 270 in the previous year.
In Aberdeen, there were a total of 918 deaths last winter, while in Aberdeenshire there were 954.
Moray’s score on the winter mortality index was 23%, while the rise in Highland was 19%, 31% in the Western Isles, 21% in Orkney and 28% in Shetland.
Last night, North East MSP Tom Mason said: “It is deeply concerning to find out that people aged over 75 are not getting the flu jab as promised, so late in the year.
“Waiting till December or January for the enhanced vaccine may be too late for some.”
A spokesman for NHS Grampian said: “Supplies of the vaccine for people aged over 75 years is being supplied by national procurement to all practices in Scotland in a planned way with practices receiving 40% of their allocation in September, 20% in October and 40% in November.
“This means practices have needed to plan vaccination of their over-75 year old patients in a phased way as their monthly allocation of this vaccine has become available. As a consequence, some patients aged over 75 years are being offered vaccination during November.
“This timing is compatible with patients benefiting from the Protection vaccination offers prior to influenza beginning to circulate widely in the population.”
NHS Highland also confirmed there had been similar problems.
A spokesman said: “We are aware of the situation and are experiencing delays. It’s primarily a national problem, but we are currently managing the situation in our GP practices through phasing appointments.”
