MANY York pharmacists have run out of flu vaccine - just as new figures emerged indicating that the city has the highest rate of influenza in England.

A survey by The Press showed pharmacies in both the big Tesco stores at Clifton Moor and Askham Bar, Asda at Monks Cross and Boots in Coney Street all had no stocks of vaccine left by yesterday.

Boots in Coppergate had one jab left and its shop in Kings Square had more, while some of those pharmacies without were hoping for fresh deliveries from their suppliers shortly.

Monk Bar Pharmacy has no vaccine stocks left for fresh bookings after a recent upsurge in demand but pharmacy manager Bekki Shone said today she had ordered fresh stocks which would be delivered by tomorrow morning at the latest.

She urged anyone wanting a jab to phone 01904 626181 as soon as possible to make an appointment.

A report published by Public Health England has described the number of GP consultations for influenza-like illnesses in York as ‘very high,’ more than any other location in England.

National newspapers have claimed such consultations are running at 104.4 per 100,000 people in York, which they said compared with a national average of 34.9 and was not far short of a level of 108.9 per 100,000 which would signal an epidemic.

However, Public Health England has urged caution over the data, which it said came from an on-line flu survey set up during the swine flu pandemic in 2009 as an indicator of flu activity in the community.

“Around 7,500 people around the country are currently registered with the survey and, during the winter, they voluntarily report if they have had flu-like symptoms during the previous week,” said a spokeswoman.

“This means numbers of participants at a local level will be small and figures should thus be interpreted with caution.

“It is just one of a range of indicators which PHE flu surveillance considers when looking at the position across the country each week.”

Professor Paul Cosford, medical director with Public Health England, said its data showed that more people were visiting GPs with flu symptoms and more people were being admitted to hospitals with the flu.

“We are currently seeing a mix of flu types, including the A(H3N2) strain that circulated last winter in the UK and then in Australia,” he said.

“The A(H3N2) strain particularly affects older, more vulnerable age groups. We encourage anyone who is eligible to take up their offer of the flu vaccine – it is not too late.

“People suffering with flu-like symptoms should catch coughs or sneezes in tissues and bin them immediately, wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water and frequently clean regularly used surfaces to stop the spread of flu.

“Avoid having unnecessary contact with other people if you or they have symptoms of flu.”

The growing flu problem has led to huge problems at A & E for hospitals including York. The Press reported earlier this month that more than 200 ambulances were delayed for an hour or longer across the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s hospitals during Christmas week.

The Press attempted to contact Asda, Tesco and Boots for comment yesterday but no one was available.