FLU vaccines in Comet country have been running low this week, with both doctor surgeries and pharmacies in the area reporting shortages yesterday (Friday).

Marymead Medical Practice in Stevenage said that it could not provide a vaccination unless patients fell under a certain category, and admitted that stocks were running low even for those patients.

It was also said that the surgery had been receiving a high level of calls from people asking for the vaccination and that people in the area would be hard-pressed to find a stockists.

Chells Doctors Surgery and Shephall Way Doctors Surgery, both in Stevenage, also said that they could only provide a vaccination for the very vulnerable or for those in the “at risk” category.

In Stotfold, Larksfield Surgery ran out of the vaccine completely and were unable to offer any injections.

And Regal Chambers Surgery in Hitchin told that it could not issue jabs for most types of people, but only those who were pregnant, or for young children or the elderly.

A receptionist added that the best port of call would be a chemist.

An employee at Boots in Queensway, Stevenage, said its stocks had ran out and that there were no vaccines available.

And the Stevenage branch of Asda, where many people locally have been recommended to try, also said it had none available.

An employee at its pharmacy said that the supplier could not send any stocks because it was not “in season”.

On Thursday, the chief medical officer from the Department of Health wrote to GPs about the shortage.

A spokesman from the Department of Health said: “We are continuing to encourage PCTs to work closely with General Practitioners to resolve any seasonal flu vaccine supply issues locally.

“If efforts to source seasonal flu vaccine locally have not been successful, then the N1N1 monovalent vaccine can be offered to those eligible for seasonal flu vaccine. This vaccine is licensed for use.”