SNP accused of playing flu jab games

A ROW has erupted over Scotland's spare winter flu vaccines after a Labour MP accused the SNP of "political game playing".

Labour's Tom Greatrex made the claim after the Scottish Government admitted it had a stockpile of 40,000 jabs - but 32,000 of these would shortly be sent to health boards and the rest kept as an emergency supply.

The Department of Health in England has been forced to look for suppliers across Europe in its hunt for spare vaccines, but the Scottish Government said no formal approach had been made asking for help from Scotland.

Mr Greatrex said: "If Andrew Lansley is correct about when his department approached the Scottish Government, then the headlines conjured by the SNP last week were outrageous and untrue.

"To play games with this issue when thousands are suffering from flu across the UK is distasteful. To do so in direct contradiction of the facts, as Nicola Sturgeon appears to have done, is nothing short of disgraceful."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "Discussions certainly took place between officials to discuss the number of vaccines available across the UK, however no formal approach for assistance was made by the Department of Health