Elderly patients and carers of vulnerable people eligible for free flu jabs say they are waiting weeks for appointments only to be told they have run out.

It comes as GP surgeries and pharmacies across north Kent and Medway struggle to meet the rising demand as part of Public Health England's largest ever vaccination campaign.

In an average year, the flu virus would kill around 11,000 people but fears have been heightened this year as new research suggests people infected with both flu and Covid-19 are more at risk of severe illness and death.

Southfleet pensioner Ian Jackson, 72, has been trying to arrange an appointment for himself and his 67-year-old wife for weeks without success.

The Warren Road resident says he contacted his local surgery at the beginning of October which informed him of a walk-in clinic on a "first-come, first-served" basis.

But when Mr Jackson turned up for his jab there were huge queues of people and no guarantee he would be seen.

"On that particular day it was like Brands Hatch, it was absolutely choc-a-block," he said.

"I was a bit cautious about standing in the queue as there was a lot of people and we had been self-isolating since the beginning of lockdown. I'm a goner if I get the both of them."

Shortly after Mr Jackson rang his local pharmacy to see if they had any availability.

"That was my preferred choice but when I spoke to them they said they had no flu jabs left and they didn't know when they were going to get it in," he said.

Mr Jackson said he was "extremely frustrated" that he had been urged to get the vaccine but had been unable to date.

"It does not bode well for when they roll out this Covid-19 vaccine," he added.

The NHS is working to provide a free flu vaccine to 30 million eligible people, including the over 65's, pregnant women and primary school age children among others.

Manufacturers make the vaccines each year according to the number of flu jab orders placed around December last year – before Coronavirus hit the UK.

But unprecedented early demand has put a strain on both GPs and pharmacies.

It led Boots and other big chains to suspend online bookings for anyone not over 65 or included in the eligible vulnerable groups.

Claire Pearce, from Stone, has spoken out about flu jab shortages in Dartford and the difficulties for carers.

The 44-year-old parish councillor waited three hours on hold with the doctors to secure an appointment for her partner who is a stroke survivor and at high risk of Covid-19 and flu.

But Claire has not been able to secure a vaccine for herself despite meeting the eligibility criteria as her partner's carer.

She said: "My GP surgery informed me that I cannot get a flu vaccine this year as there are shortages.

"Although I am entitled to a flu jab, I know that I am lucky that I am relatively healthy - but as a carer I worry that if I get ill who looks after my loved one?

"I have contacted every pharmacy in the local area and they have no supplies left."

She added: "This is flu season and Covid-19 is an unprecedented addition this year, but on behalf of local carers, our pharmacists, GP's and all those that care for our elderly and vulnerable - we need to make sure there is enough flu vaccine for everyone who needs it."

Last week a Healthwatch Kent and Medway report was released listing the concerns of more than 100 community pharmacists planning for a possible "second wave" of the pandemic.

It found chemists were inundated with phone calls every day regarding flu vaccines and there was "not enough vaccines for patient demand".

Another common theme was customers who would not typically get the flu jab in other years also getting vaccinated.

Last month James Devine, the chief executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said getting the jab is a "social responsibility" for all members of the community.

"If I get ill who looks after my loved one?"

Director of Merlin Pharmacy, in Silverweed Road, Chatham, Arun Jangra says the situation had created the "perfect storm".

"Initially the uptake was very slow in September," he said. "We put an advert in the window and some people said they would have it later.

"Within two weeks all our allocation went – and then all of a sudden people were looking at the news."

He added: "We had 100 under 65s on back order and we took about 100 phone calls."

"I sent 100 texts to all the people that expressed an interest and within two hours we had used about 60 up.

Mr Jangra explained they order lots every year but it is not always easy to predict and that last year they had 50 left over which they could not sell and so therefore had to take the hit themselves.

In the wake of the surging demand pharmacies have called on the government to help them distribute evenly and not to stockpile.

Kent and Medway Local Pharmaceutical Committee chief executive Shilpa Shah said: "In terms of flu jabs we are soon going to be ordering more vaccines so will be vaccinating again.

"Up until the end of October we have in Kent and Medway done double the vaccinations that we had done the same time last year.

"The government have assured us that there are enough flu vaccinations to vaccinate all those that are vulnerable and community pharmacy will be given access to the stock, which we have just received guidance about."

Health chiefs have urged eligible people to "sit tight" and not to feel the need to "rush out" and get vaccinated if they have no appointment and instead wait their turn.

Public Health England insists everyone eligible to get a flu jab will get one in time and that delays are part of a phased roll-out.

A spokesperson for NHS England and NHS Improvement in the South East said: “There are no shortages of the flu vaccine.

"Deliveries of the vaccine began in September, to allow plenty of time for when the flu season usually starts in December.

"Invitations are sent first to those who are most at risk to attend their local flu clinics.

“GP practices and pharmacies continue to receive phased deliveries of the vaccine, and flu clinics are scheduled to coincide with these deliveries.

"By staggering appointments over the winter months, we can help protect as many people as possible from flu.”

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