This was confirmed by Dr. Françoise Berthet, deputy director of the Health directorate.
The call for pharmacies to prioritise vulnerable people came too late, according to her. However, a further 24,000 vaccines are expected by the end of this or early next week. A further 30,000 plus 5,000 should be delivered around mid-December.
The Health directorate was aware that demand would be greater this year, which is why they ordered 20% more vaccines than usual. But the demand exceeded even these.
Ordering more is not possible at this point, as the problem of demand exceeding supply is affecting all of Europe.
The directive is that only vulnerable people should get the vaccine, meaning those over 65, pregnant women, those with chronic illness, nursing home residents and medical personnel.
People should ask to be put on the waiting list at their local pharmacy. The 30,000 additional vaccines expected for mid-December will be distributed by the Health directorate.
The pharmacists' union had already confirmed the flu vaccine shortage last week.
