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Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has said there is no national shortage of flu vaccines despite reports that pharmacies are struggling to obtain stock as cases surge during one of the worst winters on record.

CPE echoed NHS England’s claim on Thursday that vaccinations are available across the NHS, including in pharmacies, GP practices, hospitals and schools, although pharmacy’s negotiator said it informed the Government and NHSE about “isolated reports of pharmacies struggling to obtain stock”.

“Reports in the media have suggested that pharmacies across England are running low on flu vaccines, with potential shortages of appointments in some isolated areas,” CPE said.

“Reports indicate that a particularly infectious strain is driving what could be the worst flu season on record this winter, prompting more people to seek vaccination. While there is no national shortage, we have received isolated reports of pharmacies struggling to obtain stock and have flagged these to DHSC and NHS England.”

Last week, CPE reassured pharmacy owners that flu vaccine stocks were available to order, suggesting “where pharmacy owners have exhausted their original flu vaccine stock, flu vaccine supply may still be available from some wholesalers”.

NHSE said flu hospitalisations last week “surged by more than half, plunging the NHS into a worst-case scenario situation for December”. It revealed an average of 2,660 patients a day ended up in hospital with flu last week. That, it warned, was the “highest ever for this time of year and up 55 per cent” on the week before.

CPE chief executive Janet Morrison said reports of pharmacies struggling to get hold of stocks of flu vaccines appeared “to be very dependent on location”.

“Some supplies still appear to be available in some locations and all pharmacies will be working hard to source extra stock if they need it,” Morrison said.

“If people are trying to get their flu jab, a good first step would be to simply check in with their local pharmacy.”

One pharmacy owner, Bharat Dhir who runs Fawdon Park Pharmacy in Newcastle, told the BBC vaccine supplies were “tight” and revealed he had run out of stock for patients under 65 by Saturday.

“Vaccine supplies are very limited at the moment obviously this year. With there being a massive increase in demand, supply chains from wholesalers tend to dry up,” he said.

“Flu season starts at the beginning of October and the majority of people are usually vaccinated by now and it tends to die down by the end of November. But obviously, there's been an upsurge in flu going around at the moment.”

Are you struggling to get hold of stocks of flu vaccines? Get in touch and let us know at neil.trainis@1530.com