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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Scots 'not asked by English for spare flu jabs' | Scots 'not asked by English for spare flu jabs' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News | By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News |
| Scotland says it was never asked by England for some of its spare flu vaccines, despite the shortfall south of the border. | Scotland says it was never asked by England for some of its spare flu vaccines, despite the shortfall south of the border. |
| England's Department of Health scoured Europe for jabs after some areas ran out before deciding to use old stocks left over from the pandemic. | England's Department of Health scoured Europe for jabs after some areas ran out before deciding to use old stocks left over from the pandemic. |
| But it has now emerged the Scottish government has 40,000 doses after ordering an emergency supply in case its own GPs ran out. | |
| It said it would have tried to help. | It said it would have tried to help. |
| Contingency pot | Contingency pot |
| A spokeswoman said: "We would always consider helping England in any way appropriate should a request be made, while our priority has to be public health in Scotland which is what we have planned for." | A spokeswoman said: "We would always consider helping England in any way appropriate should a request be made, while our priority has to be public health in Scotland which is what we have planned for." |
| In England, GPs order flu vaccines direct from manufacturers. | In England, GPs order flu vaccines direct from manufacturers. |
| In Scotland, pharmacists order on behalf of GPs, but the government also gets in extra itself for a contingency pot. | |
| Instead of turning to Scotland, which has reported no vaccine shortages, English health officials have spent time this week asking suppliers whether there are any available vaccines in Europe. | Instead of turning to Scotland, which has reported no vaccine shortages, English health officials have spent time this week asking suppliers whether there are any available vaccines in Europe. |
| But with little on offer, they took the decision on Thursday to let GPs who have run out access the 12m stockpile of vaccine left over from 2009. | But with little on offer, they took the decision on Thursday to let GPs who have run out access the 12m stockpile of vaccine left over from 2009. |
| It is still in date, but only protects against the swine flu strain, just one of three circulating this winter albeit the dominant one. | It is still in date, but only protects against the swine flu strain, just one of three circulating this winter albeit the dominant one. |
| Even though there was no request, the BBC understands the issue of vaccines was mentioned in discussions between civil servants. | Even though there was no request, the BBC understands the issue of vaccines was mentioned in discussions between civil servants. |
| The Department of Health said its understanding was that there was only a "nominal" amount that could be made available and even this would not be freed up straight-away. | The Department of Health said its understanding was that there was only a "nominal" amount that could be made available and even this would not be freed up straight-away. |