Piedmont Administers Over 500,000 Flu Vaccines Despite Supplier Stock Shortage
Piedmont has administered more than 500,000 flu vaccine doses this season, up from roughly 430,000 recorded by November 4 of last year, Torino Oggi reported. The increase comes even as a supplier stock-out has left some Turin pharmacies and general practitioners without doses of the Flucelvax vaccine they had ordered. The region stressed that there is no block of the flu vaccination campaign in Piedmont and credited the commitment of healthcare professionals and citizens’ positive response to the prevention initiative, Torino Oggi reported.
Supplier Exhausts Flucelvax Stock, Pharmacies Turn to Regional Reserve
The local health authority (ASL) sent a circular to pharmacies and GPs two days ago stating that the company contracted to supply flu vaccines had gone into “rottura di stock” — meaning it exhausted its inventory and could no longer fulfill orders, La Stampa reported. As a result, some pharmacies and clinics that had not kept reserve supplies found themselves empty, while others rationed administrations and asked Turin residents to wait.
A partial turnaround arrived the following day, when the ASL sent a second communication allowing pharmacies and doctors to request flu vaccines from the Piedmont Region’s own stocks.
Regional Vaccines Restricted to Older Adults
There is a catch. The Flucelvax distributed until recently can be used from six months of age with no upper age limit. The formulations the Region is now offering are two high-dose versions — one reserved for people over 50 and the other for those over 60 — originally intended for nursing homes (Rsa) to provide stronger protection for elderly people, whose immune systems respond less effectively to vaccination. Anyone under 50 risks being unable to get vaccinated in the coming days unless their pharmacy or GP still has Flucelvax reserves.
Officials and Opposition Trade Assessments of the Campaign
Massimo Mana, president of Federfarma Piemonte, said vaccination in pharmacies “never stopped and is not stopping.” The pharmacists’ federation nonetheless noted that the manufacturer’s difficulty fulfilling orders could create uneven access for at-risk people aged 18 to 49.
The Region stated that of the more than 520,000 standard doses purchased, over 170,000 remain available in the Piedmont system. Given that vaccination for the 18-to-49 age group targets at-risk individuals, these stocks can meet expected short- and medium-term needs, officials said.
Regional councillors Nadia Conticelli and Daniele Valle of the Democratic Party attacked what they called disorganization by the regional government that falls on Piedmont residents and health workers. Valle serves as vice president of the IV Health Commission. The pair demanded immediate institutional responses and transparency on the real campaign data, saying: “We expect assessor Riboldi to come to the Health Commission to explain what happened with the flu vaccine supplies.” Many clinics were forced to revise schedules and, in some cases, suspend appointments already booked because the Flucelvax producer had exhausted supplies and could not continue deliveries before reaching the total number of doses purchased.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many flu vaccine doses has Piedmont administered this season?
More than 500,000 doses, compared with about 430,000 by November 4 of last year, according to Torino Oggi.
How many standard doses does the Region still have available?
Over 170,000 of the 520,000+ standard doses purchased remain in the Piedmont system, regional officials said.
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