DoH blames GPs for shortage of flu jabs.(Department of Health)

GPs have angrily rejected DoH suggestions that they have caused a shortage of flu vaccine by misusing supplies.

In a letter to GPs sent out earlier this week Dr David Salisbury, head of immunisation at the DoH, blamed GPs for wasting flu vaccine in treating the worried well instead of conserving it for use in the elderly and at-risk patients.

He warned that this had led to a shortage of vaccine and that the government's contingency stock of 400,000 doses would soon be exhausted.

In response to the suggestion that the shortage had been caused by increased numbers of at-risk patients presenting for vaccination because of fears over bird flu, Dr …