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Old pandemic flu vaccine 'to fill jabs shortfall' Old pandemic flu vaccine 'to fill jabs shortfall'
(40 minutes later)
By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News
Old vaccines left over from the swine flu pandemic will be used to plug the shortfall in this winter's supplies.Old vaccines left over from the swine flu pandemic will be used to plug the shortfall in this winter's supplies.
The government made the announcement amid reports that GPs in some parts of the country were running out of vaccines. The government made the announcement amid reports that GPs in some parts of the country were running out of jabs.
It comes as the death toll in the flu outbreak climbed by 11 in the past week to reach 50 across the UK. Officials said doctors could have access to the 12m stockpile of vaccines from 2009 immediately.
However, there were signs the number of new infections were beginning to level off, officials said. It comes as the death toll in the flu outbreak climbed by 11 in the past week to 50 across the UK. But there were signs the outbreak may have peaked.
The latest figures are hard to interpret because of the Christmas break.The latest figures are hard to interpret because of the Christmas break.
The number of patients going to see their GP with flu fell by a fifth last week, but surgeries were shut for two out of the five days.The number of patients going to see their GP with flu fell by a fifth last week, but surgeries were shut for two out of the five days.
The pattern is not uniform across the UK either.
GP consultations rates are highest in Northern Ireland, where they actually rose in the past week, whereas Scotland has lower rates than elsewhere.
Critical careCritical care
Meanwhile, the number of cases in hospital has started to fall in the last couple of days, although 783 patients remain seriously ill in critical care in England.Meanwhile, the number of cases in hospital has started to fall in the last couple of days, although 783 patients remain seriously ill in critical care in England.
Nonetheless, officials still felt confident to suggest cases may have started to plateau, although the amount of flu circulating is still much higher than would normally be expected.
Of the 50 who have died, 45 had swine flu and five another strain, flu type B.Of the 50 who have died, 45 had swine flu and five another strain, flu type B.
The deaths are mostly among children and young adults, with five cases in the under-fives and eight cases among those aged five to 14. The deaths are mostly among the under 65s, with five cases in the under-fives and eight cases among those aged five to 14.
Government officials said the figures suggested this outbreak could have peaked. This is because the elderly seem to have some immunity to the swine flu virus probably because of some exposure to a similar strain many years ago.
But the move to open up the stockpiles of the pandemic virus shows there is real concern about the supply problems being reported. Despite the hope that the outbreak may have peaked, the move to open up the stockpiles of the pandemic virus shows there is real concern about the supply problems being reported.
For days, patients and GPs have been coming forward saying there was an issue.For days, patients and GPs have been coming forward saying there was an issue.
On Wednesday, the government admitted there were "local supply issues" and said it has asked manufacturers to look across Europe for spare vaccine.On Wednesday, the government admitted there were "local supply issues" and said it has asked manufacturers to look across Europe for spare vaccine.
But it is thought there is very little free which could be used in the UK so the government said it was making the 12m stock of pandemic vaccine available to GPs who needed it. But it is thought there is very little free which could be used in the UK so instead the government said it was making the stock of pandemic vaccine available to GPs who needed it.
The 2009 vaccine is different from the jab being offered this year, but as swine flu is the dominant strain in circulation it will offer some protection. The 2009 vaccine is different from the jab being offered this year.
Officials said the jabs were still usable as they have a shelf life until the end of 2011. It offers protection against just one of the three strains, but as swine flu is the dominant strain in circulation the government said it was the best option available.
Interim chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies said: "The message to at-risk groups is if you need the vaccine we have it." Professor David Salisbury, the government's director of immunisation, said the jabs were perfectly useable, safe and effective as they have a shelf life until the end of 2011.
"This will help protect the public against the virus which is causing the most illness."
Interim chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies added: "The message to at-risk groups is if you need the vaccine we have it."
She said she did not believe the shortages were nationwide, but rather a "mismatch" with excess vaccine in some areas and too little in others.
She said it was unclear why this had happened as the numbers coming forward for immunisation were no different from previous years.
But she suggested some of the so-called "worried well" - those not in the at-risk groups - may have been given it.
Dr Maureen Baker, of the Royal College of GPs, dismissed this, saying some GPs had seen a surge in patients wanting the jab in recent weeks because of the publicity about the outbreak.
She added: "The move to allow us to use the pandemic vaccine is very welcome and should help ease the problems in certain areas."
GPs order vaccines directly from manufacturers. They base these on the number of people who come forward for vaccination in previous years.