Flu vaccine shortages threaten Switzerland’s vaccination season

Flu vaccine deliveries are facing delays in Switzerland, with the Federal Office of Public Health currently expecting only 60 percent of the required supply to arrive on time, SRF reported.

Two of the four flu vaccines available this year are affected by delivery problems. The shortages could leave some pharmacies without vaccine during the national vaccination week in the first week of November.

Lukas Korner-Wyss, owner of a pharmacy in Gränichen in the canton of Aargau, had planned to offer flu vaccinations this autumn. But the vaccine he originally ordered is not expected to arrive until January.

He has since found a second supplier that expects to deliver the vaccine in mid-November. Another supplier could have delivered on time at the beginning of October, but its stock has already sold out.

The pharmacists’ association Pharmasuisse is responding by extending the vaccination offer. The national vaccination week will still take place in the first week of November, while an additional vaccination period will be held in the final week of November at pharmacies and medical practices.

Pharmasuisse described the situation as unusual and said it should not happen again. The association plans to stay in contact with manufacturers, the Federal Office of Public Health and other organisations to receive information as early as possible in future.

Korner-Wyss is calling for greater transparency and stronger action from the authorities. He said manufacturers should be required to provide information about delivery problems in good time, so pharmacies know how long a product will be unavailable.