GSK statement on influenza vaccine supply for the 2018 season

Due to high take up of flu vaccination in the last two months, reflecting the importance Australians are placing on helping protect themselves against serious illness, GSK’s supply of its influenza vaccine, Fluarix Tetra, for the 2018 influenza season has now been fully distributed within Australia. GSK is unable to manufacture any additional doses, however is working with Government to see if is possible to access more doses from other countries.

All pre-ordered Fluarix Tetra doses for the 2018 season have now been delivered, including all doses provided to state governments to support state and federal vaccination programs. GSK has also delivered additional reserve doses it brought into the country at the start of the influenza season.

GSK’s seasonal influenza vaccine supply planning begins a year in advance of each season, and we confirm requirements from all our customers in October– including governments and pharmacy & GP wholesalers – for orders in the following year.

For the 2018 Australian influenza season we had lower orders from governments due to the introduction of new vaccines for the over 65 age group, but we brought in 50% more doses to the country for the private market to be delivered through pharmacies and GP practices.

The severe 2017 Australian influenza season has driven awareness of the need to vaccinate to help protect against influenza, and we have seen high take up of flu vaccination in the last two months. This reflects the importance Australians are placing on helping protect themselves against serious illness.

Members of the public who wish to vaccinate themselves against influenza in 2018, particularly those in an at-risk group, including people over 65 years of age, people with chronic health conditions and people from an ATSI background, should visit their GP for advice on seasonal influenza vaccination.