Citizens in Islamabad left hanging amid unavailability of influenza vaccines

ISLAMABAD: With the onset of winter nearly here, a number of families in the federal capital have been unable to get their hands on influenza (flu) vaccines. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention , an annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help reduce the risk of getting flu and any of its potentially serious complications. Naeem Ahmed, a resident of the federal capital who gets a shot of the flu vaccine for his mother every year in October, told Dawn that he had been running from pillar to post for the last month but could not find the vaccine in the market. “I have been administering the vaccine to my mother for the last many years, but unfortunately this year it seems that my mother will become vulnerable to influenza as the vaccine may remain unavailable,” he feared.

Another citizen, Sohail Jamil, had the same story: he searched for the vaccine at various medical stores, but was told that it was not available this year. A pharmacist running a drug store, wishing not to be named, said that the Chinese Sinovac, French Vaxigrip and American Influvac were the three primary flu vaccines available in the local market. However, none of them were available this year. “I used to sell at least 1,500 shots in October, but this year I could not arrange a single one,” he said, explaining that the vaccine should ideally be administered in early autumn, around September or October — especially to the elderly — just before flu activity increases in the community. The pharmacist claimed that, due to rumours that the vaccine would not be available this year, some agents had started online bookings in the black market and received advance payments. However, even they were not able to provide the vaccine, he said. Speaking to Dawn , the chief executive…