Patients told there will not be major delays for flu jabs
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Patients should not have any delays in getting flu jabs this year despite vaccine production problems, according to Scotland's top doctor.
Dr Harry Burns, the country's chief medical officer, said there was enough vaccine to immunise vulnerable groups before the start of the winter.
There have been Europe-wide delays in the production of one of the strains of the virus needed in vaccine production.
The Scottish Executive's annual flu immunisation campaign starts this week.
It aims to make sure those aged 65 and over and people with certain medical conditions receive the free jab.
Dr Burns said: "As it has already been documented, due to problems growing one of the vaccine's virus strains delivery of the flu vaccine will be slightly delayed by approximately one month across Europe.
"GPs are liaising closely with community pharmacists who supply the vaccine to ensure they have vaccines in place before they finalise their schedule of vaccine clinics and publicise them to their patients.
"Despite these delays, I am assured that there will be sufficient flu vaccine to immunise these at risk groups before winter starts."
One-Minute World News
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I am assured that there will be sufficient flu vaccine to immunise these at risk groups before winter starts
