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The state's chief health officer has advised health professionals stocks of five brands of flu vaccine have run out in Victoria.
Limited stock of FluQuadri Junior was still available to providers to order and a limited supply of Fluzone and FluQuatdri may arrive in coming days and weeks.
However, it was likely to be extremely limited.
In a directive to health professionals and immunisation providers chief health officer Professor Charles Guest said those who still had influenza vaccine should prioritise children aged aged six months to five years, if possible.
"And then prioritise all other persons in risk groups eligible under the National Immunisation Program," he said.
"Avoid using remaining stock to immunise people who are not in either of these two categories, in order to conserve remaining vaccine for those highest at risk of the complications of influenza."
EARLIER:
Flu vaccine stocks are near exhaustion and the state’s health minister has written to the federal government requesting more action.
Jill Hennessy has contacted the commonwealth minister for health, asking him to help improve the supply of vaccine.
Last week, a number of Bendigo pharmacists said they were experiencing shortages, while the Campaspe Shire exhausted its supply and put more vaccines on back order.
On Wednesday, the department said it was prioritising vaccinations for the most vulnerable amid unprecedented demand nationally.
The state’s chief health officer Charles Guest said today that groups most at risk included children aged six months to five years and and people in risk groups under the National Immunisation Program.
“Other groups are pregnant women, people aged 65 years and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over, and people with medical conditions predisposing them to severe influenza,” he said.
“People in these groups should call ahead to their provider to ascertain if vaccine remains available. It may be necessary to contact an alternative provider as there may be stock in some GP practices and not others in Victoria.
“For people who are not in a risk group for severe complications of influenza or not aged six months to under five years, please wait for updates on the availability of influenza vaccine. Remaining vaccine now needs to be conserved for those who are at greatest need.
Professor Guest said Victoria was working with the Australian government to find new ways to urgently obtain more vaccine, with most stocks near exhaustion.
Professor Guest said the increase in demand could be a consequence of last year’s flu season and government advice to immunise.
“In particular, parents have taken steps to protect their children, with strong uptake of vaccination for kids aged 6 months to under five.”
So far, Victoria has provided more than 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to immunisation providers for use across the state.
On most days in recent weeks up to 50,000 doses of influenza vaccine had been distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services across the state.