Zostavax – the shingles vaccine – is no longer available to order from the ImmForm website, following a UK-wide shortage.
Last month Management in Practice reported that a cap on orders had been implemented to ensure that supplies could still be sent out.
But according to Public Health England’s (PHE) latest vaccine update, ‘multiple ordering’ to get around the cap has resulted in problems distributing the stock.
PHE said that further orders will be “monitored”.
The PHE Vaccine Update states: “We expect further limited deliveries during October, at which point ordering will be resumed, with more substantial volumes due in November and December.
“It is likely that the order level cap for England will remain in place during this period. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
Zostavax must only be ordered for 70 and 79 year olds this year. PHE has again asked for the vaccine not to be stockpiled because “it is expensive and it is important to minimise wastage”.
The shingles vaccine programme began on 1 September 2013.
