Critics attack failed flu jab targets as experts warn of death toll

Published on Saturday 15 March 2008 18:46

AROUND 100 Scots have died and 1,000 were left dangerously ill this winter because targets on flu immunisations were not met, experts have claimed.

Thousands of patients with serious illnesses such as asthma, heart disease and diabetes did not receive flu vaccines despite targets put in place to save their lives.

Less than half of Scotland's 600,000 patients suffering long-term illnesses were given the flu jab by their GP despite a target from the Scottish Government that 60% should receive it.

The failure means that a total of 100,000 sick Scots who should have been immunised were not, despite a 360,000 Scottish Government scheme to advertise the vaccine.

Last night critics warned that GPs and the Scottish Government should take more responsibility for vulnerable patients and tell them of the consequences of not having the flu jab. The vaccine is vital in protecting patients with heart, chest and other serious problems from complications from the infection such as pneumonia.

Some GPs phone or send letters out to patients inviting them to attend a flu jab session. But others simply let patients know of the scheme by way of information printed on the bottom of repeat prescriptions and posters in surgeries. This means many patients simply do not know they are eligible.

Yesterday one of the UK's leading influenza experts John Oxford, a professor of virology at Queen Mary's School of Medicine, London, said: "If 100,000 patients who should have been vaccinated were not, then around 5% would have got the flu. Up to 100 would have died. I would say that around 1,000 would suffer long-term effects."

Dr Jim McMenamin, chairman of the Flu Implementation Group for Health Protection Scotland, said: "It is not easy to do a centralised targeted letter to the under-65s as it's a big population to trawl through."