THE winter flu vaccination programme will launch as planned despite a "supply issue" affecting the nasal spray used to protect young children.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government confirmed that only a small quantity of the sprays were due for delivery north of the Border after health chiefs in England announced that they were pausing a school pilot scheme following an alert from pharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca.
She said: “We are aware of a supply issue with the nasal spray vaccine. Only a small quantity of this vaccine will be supplied to Scotland, our Scottish flu programme is progressing as planned and will be launch [on Thursday].”
The spray is being used to vaccinate children aged between two and six against flu.
Professor Paul Cosford, Medical Director at Public Health England, said certain stocks of the nasal spray "did not meet the strict licensing specifications" and had to be scrapped.
Contingency supplies had been ordered from the United States and would be made available in the coming weeks, pending European safety checks.
A whole school pilot programme being trialled in six areas of England has been paused until the supply issue is resolved.
The adult flu vaccine is not affected, and Prof Cosford said that there were still "significant vaccine stocks" of the nasal spray in place which doctors and pharmacists can continue to order as normal.
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