Students preparing to start university are among those being offered the vaccine (Image: Getty)
The NHS meningitis B vaccine catch-up rollout has been criticised as a “shambles” by a leading pharmacy figure, after supply issues left some community pharmacies unable to vaccinate patients as planned. According to a snapshot survey of 380 pharmacies in England carried out by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), just one in three had enough vaccine stock to begin giving the jab when the programme opened on Monday.
The findings showed that another 28% of pharmacies had started offering meningitis B vaccinations but were then forced to delay or rearrange appointments later in the week because deliveries had not arrived. A further 31% said they were not able to run any appointments at all because stock had not been received in time. The Independent Pharmacies Association, which represents thousands of privately owned and family-run community pharmacies, said its members had raised similar concerns about vaccine supplies.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the IPA, said: “Unfortunately, in many areas of the country vaccines are not coming through, so a lot of people have had to cancel the appointments. It’s turned into a mess.”
The one-off meningitis B catch-up campaign began on Monday and is aimed at Year 13 students, as well as young people about to move into full-time residential education, including those heading to university.
The programme was introduced following meningitis outbreaks in Reading and Kent, which led to the deaths of three young people earlier this year. Eligible Year 13 pupils are able to book through the NHS online system, while others who qualify are being told to walk in or contact pharmacies directly.
Dr Hannbeck said pharmacy leaders had pushed for the meningitis B vaccine rollout, but warned the early delivery problems had left the scheme in disarray. She said continued disruption could threaten the “short window” available for young people to receive both required doses this autumn.
Dr Hannbeck added: “We pharmacists have been put in a position where we are having to turn patients away and it makes us look bad.
“We want to make a success out of it but, unfortunately, we are completely reliant on how NHS England handles the logistics.”
She urged patients not to be “put off” if they are eligible, adding: “We’ll do everything we can for you to get vaccinated, but please understand that a lot of it is out of our control.”
Ashley Cohen, an NPA board member, told BBC Breakfast there were “teething problems” but there would be enough time for young people to get protected.
He added: “This has evolved at pace and the Government have wanted to capture those going off to university now. I’m hearing from many pharmacies across the country that they have got not enough vaccines, more appointments.
“There will be some teething problems where the vaccine isn’t in the right place at the right time, but bear with us.
“It’s really important because although it launches today, you don’t have to get the vaccine today or tomorrow. There is plenty of time.”
Students were offered the jab after outbreaks in Kent and Reading (Image: Getty)
Mr Cohen added that pharmacies had been given just weeks to prepare. He said: “It will take another couple of weeks, I think, to get the volume of vaccines in the pharmacies at the right time.
“It has been nationally procured so pharmacies aren’t ordering this themselves. We at the coalface, at the frontline, are having to manage our appointments through the National Booking System with the vaccines that are being delivered on a weekly basis.”
The NHS understands there are examples of pharmacies not ordering enough vaccines or not ordering in time and then overbooking appointments.
An NHS spokesperson said: “This programme has seen an incredible response, with more than 8,000 high-street pharmacies signing up in just four weeks to help us deliver this life-saving vaccine for young people.
“The NHS has plenty of stock available and is working closely with pharmacies to roll this out quickly.
“There are tens of thousands of vaccine appointments available every day, so we’d encourage all eligible young people to come forward and book now to protect themselves, particularly for anyone starting university in September.”
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation — which advises the Government — recommended last week that all teenagers should be routinely vaccinated against meningitis B.
Experts concluded that youngsters who had the jab as a baby should receive a booster aged 15. They also strongly supported offering two doses to adolescents born on or before 30 April 2015, before infant vaccinations started.
The Department of Health and Social Care will consider the advice before making a final decision.
