Delays in deliveries blamed on a Brexit-related shortage of truck drivers are affecting the UK flu vaccination campaign, amid fears of heavy flu circulation this winter.
Read alsoShortages are worsening in the United Kingdom under the effect of Brexit
Vaccination appointments had to be pushed back after the Seqirus Group, the UK's largest influenza vaccine supplier, announced delivery delays of up to two weeks to England and Wales, citing "
unforeseen difficulties linked to delays in road freight
".
The United Kingdom has been facing for weeks an unprecedented shortage of truck drivers, caused by an exodus of Europeans, between Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic.
This lack of drivers has already caused supply problems for supermarkets, fast food chains and even pubs, while the public health service has been affected by a shortage of test tubes which has caused the cancellation of tests. blood.
35 million people targeted by the vaccination campaign
"
That this appears to be stemming from similar issues regarding freight capacity and transportation is of great concern, and we need to ask the government exactly what it is doing to urgently address this issue
," said Richard Vautrey of British Medical Association.
These delivery delays are getting worse, as the government wants to vaccinate a record number of people against the flu this winter.
More than 35 million people are targeted by the vaccination campaign which is due to start in September, including those over 50 and primary and secondary school students.
Health authorities fear a strong flu epidemic this winter, after low levels of contamination last year attributed to confinement.
“
So we know that when circulating influenza levels are low the previous year, we often have high infection rates the next year, so it's entirely possible that we have many influenza cases this year. year,
”Professor Anthony Harnden, vice-president of JCVI, the scientific committee overseeing vaccination campaigns, told the BBC on Saturday.
Read alsoThe British economy between Covid and Brexit
"
It is therefore very important to get the flu shot and very important to do it as soon as possible,
" he said. Mr. Harnden considered these delays "
worrying
", hoping that it will be "
soon corrected
".
