Shingles vaccine supply restored after months of delays

GP practices can order shingles vaccine again after supplies were restored on Wednesday following months of delays, but orders are still being limited.

Orders of the vaccine against shingles (pictured) are still being limited

Practices' orders via ImmForm will continue to be capped at only 20 doses per order.

Practices’ access to the vaccine Zostavax has been severely restricted since September following delays to supplies into the UK.

Orders were initially capped at five doses and then halted as UK supplies ran low.

However, Public Health England has now announced that supplies were restored on 4 December.

The organisation has previously said it was ‘disappointed’ with the delays to Zostavax.

A spokesman for Sanofi Pasteur MSD said the company was 'pleased to confirm that deliveries of Zostavax shingles vaccine have been made recently, so that shingles vaccination can recommence in GP surgeries.

'Production of shingles vaccine is ongoing and doses committed for year one of the national shingles immunisation programme will be delivered.'

People aged 70 and 79 are being offered the jab to protect against shingles under a new vaccination programme to reduce the incidence and severity of the disease in older people.

Around 500,000 doses have been distributed across the UK so far this year. Public Health England said 100,000 doses remain in GP practice fridges waiting to be used.

GPs had warned the delays could hit surgeries’ ability to deliver the vaccination programme.

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