You’ll already be aware of issues of many travel vaccines being in short supply right now. This is not only a problem in the UK but a global issue too. We’ve had a number of guidance documents published by Public Health England to help us with the situation not only for hepatitis B but hepatitis A as well. But this is the latest for hepatitis B because the situation is currently critical and its thought that vaccine won’t be available again until early into 2018. Therefore decisions have had to be made as to who takes priority for supply of any remaining stock. Ordering restrictions are therefore as follows:
- Travel Clinics, GP practices, retail pharmacies, private Occupational Health and Universities – will not be receiving any adult vaccine until further notice.
- NHS Boards and Trusts, hospitals (including GUM/HIV services, A/E), specialist community services (eg. drug services) and prisons – will have further limits applied to their orders.
A system has therefore been put into place to allow for exceptional orders if there is an urgent and immediate need for an individual following a thorough risk assessment:
If you work in a GP practice then you need to follow this guidance
- In the UK (apart from Scotland) contact customer services to discuss (GlaxoSmithKline – Tel: 0208 047 5000). For example, a baby born to a hepatitis B infected mother is a priority and must continue vaccination.
- In Scotland contact the local NHS Board Vaccine Holding Centre.
- The hexavalent vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) due to be introduced to the infant programme across the UK from September is not affected.
Look on NaTHNaC https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/ and TRAVAX http://www.travax.nhs.uk/news/ for more details and links to the PHE guidance.
