THE vaccination programme in the North of Ireland for under-65s has had to be paused.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) said it was unable to order more vaccines until mid-November due to a worldwide shortage.
Half a million flu vaccines have already been distributed in NI during what the PHA described as “exceptionally high” demand for the vaccine in the North of Ireland.
Head of Health Protection at the PHA Dr Gerry Waldron said the news will cause concern.
“I would like to provide reassurance that people will still get the vaccine well in time before we anticipate that flu will be circulating widely in the community,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride, earlier this month, rejected a Belfast Telegraph report of a shortage at a Stormont press conference saying over 1million extra doses had been ordered for those eligible.
Schools in Northern Ireland have now shut for two weeks after new restrictions were imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Finance Minister Conor Murphy has opened a support scheme for those businesses forced to close because of the new far-reaching restrictions
And former health minister Jim Wells has called for transparency from the Executive and asked it to publish the scientific data used to impose the four-week lockdown in Northern Ireland.
