Vaccine Supply Notification: 23 valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax 23) PFS (MSD Ltd) – Update

Update (22/4/2021)  – Supplies of Pneumovax® 23 pre-filled syringes (PFS) are very limited and are expected to be out of stock from the end of April until mid-May 2021.

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a vaccine supply notification for 23 valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax 23) pre-filled syringes (Merck Sharp and Dohme Limited)

Supplies of Pneumovax 23 pre-filled syringes (PFS) are very limited until January 2021, due to increased demand.

Maximum ordering quotas have been placed in agreement with the Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health England, NHS England and Improvement, Merck Sharp and Dohme Limited and the wholesaler AAH, to ensure equitable and appropriate distribution during this period.

Please note there is an override procedure in place for these quotas to fulfil orders for individuals in high risk clinical groups as outlined by PHE’s guidance. This can be found in the October 2020 Vaccine Update Bulletin

Obtaining Supplies

Supplies can only be ordered from the wholesaler AAH, please place orders via the usual channels.

For further assistance please contact AAH customer services help desk on 0344 561 2266

The DHSC Medicine Supply Team provide a monthly update on potential supply issues affecting both primary and secondary care. This update is uploaded on the Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) website. To register, you will need  an NHS email address. Once set up and logged in, you will be able to access it online.

New shortages not listed on the SPS website, can be reported using our shortage reporting tool.