Following complaints received about insufficient flu vaccine coverage, the Association sent an electronic survey to GP practices on October 18 to find out the availability of state-funded flu vaccines for at-risk patients.
138 GP practices providing publicly-funded flu vaccination completed the questionnaire.
About a third, or 32%, of the doctors surveyed say they have received insufficient quantities of Efluelda, the influenza vaccine for the population aged 60 and over.
In terms of the volume of vaccines delivered and their availability, the majority of GPs surveyed, 69%, currently say that they will not have enough publicly funded enhanced antigen vaccines for high-risk influenza patients in this age group, putting them at risk of complications, hospitalization and death due to influenza. GPs also say that there will not be enough vaccines for residents of social and care centers and other high-risk patients.
A further 33% of GPs note that not enough of the standard influenza vaccine Influvac Tetra.
Overall, 45% of GPs surveyed indicate that they will not be able to provide a state-funded service to these risk groups due to insufficient vaccine doses.
The Health Ministry will purchase an additional 5,900 doses of flu vaccines, Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity) said on social media.
Abu Meri's statement follows the statement by head of the Rural GPs Association, MP Līga Kozlovska (Greens and Farmers Union), that there would certainly not be enough state-funded flu vaccines for all. Kozlovska told LETA that the number of flu vaccines received was 10% lower than expected.
