Flu vaccine shortage sees clinics at workplaces cancelled

Flu vaccination clinics in companies across Ireland are being cancelled due to a vaccine shortage.

Workers are being told that available flu vaccines are being prioritised for the HSE and its care of vulnerable groups.

These means that public supplies of winter flu vaccine are secure but there is constraint in private supplies.

Speaking to RTÉ's This Week, Donegal-based pharmacist Tom Murray said this year’s vaccine programme for vulnerable people in GPs and pharmacies has been confirmed.

"We’re actually starting to receive our supplies already," Mr Murray said.

He added that while vulnerable people are being prioritised, there is a "small bit of lack of clarity" around the date of supply of private vaccines.

"Companies are saying to employees they may not be in a position to provide the private vaccines.

"We are hopeful they will arrive, but we haven't been given the clarity.

"But there's very good reasons why there is a certain level of shortage of vaccine production.

"This is the first time in many, many years where all three strains in a vaccine have had to be changed.

"Normally from year to year, one strain is changed and that's a much easier process for the manufacturers of the vaccines to manufacture.

"This year is the first time when all three have had to change in quite some time.

"So that's what's causing some of the delay."

Mr Murray reiterated that vulnerable people would all get their winter flu vaccine for free as normal.

"The flu vaccine is extremely effective and extremely safe when enough people have taken it," he said.

"It's always good to remember it's not about just protecting you and individuals, it's about protecting the community."

In a statement to RTÉ’s This Week, Viatris, one of the two companies contracted to supply winter flu vaccines to Ireland this year said that it was informed by its third-party manufacturer Abbot that this year’s influenza vaccine production has been impacted by the exceptional and simultaneous update of all three influenza virus strains recommended by the World Health Organisation for 2026-2027, as well as delayed of critical materials required for vaccine manufacturing and strain standardisation.

"Based on the revised manufacturing and delivery schedule proposed for Ireland, we informed the Irish health authority and our customers that we would not have supply vaccines to the private market this year, giving our customers sufficient time to secure alternative supply and help ensure patients could be vaccinated on schedule."

"We confirm that we have already started to deliver our Influvac® influenza vaccine doses in the national vaccination programme for the 2026/27 season. A portion of deliveries under the national vaccination programme will take place later, in December."

The HSE's main flu vaccination campaign will begin on 8 October.

Flu vaccination is recommended for people at increased risk of serious illness from flu, including people aged 60 years and older, pregnant women, people with certain underlying medical conditions, healthcare workers, carers and other eligible groups.

Children aged 2 to 17 years are recommended to get the nasal flu vaccine, which is free of charge.