With Britain reeling under a flu wave, pharmacies have witnessed an unprecedented demand for flu vaccinations in recent weeks.
The National Pharmacy Association held a snap poll recently and found that 95 per cent of the UK’s pharmacies have seen an increase in demand for NHS flu jabs, with some pharmacies seeing a tripling in the number of appointments booked.
Around 90 per cent of pharmacies have seen an increase in private appointments.
Responding to calls for pregnant women to get their flu vaccines due to rising hospitalisation numbers, Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said, “Most independent pharmacies are telling us they still have good stock availability and can vaccinate patients promptly.
“We join royal colleges in urging people in at-risk groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“Flu can make you very ill, and also pose risks to unborn babies, so ask at your local pharmacy or GP practice for a jab, which is quick and almost completely painless.”
Health authorities report a sharp rise in flu-related admissions, with an average of more than 3,100 patients hospitalised daily by the end of last week, an 18 percent increase from the previous week.
