HEALTH bosses have admitted Bolton has a shortage of flu vaccine, with doctors "struggling" to give the jab to people in the most at risk groups.

Pensioners, carers, people with chronic respiratory, renal, heart and liver disease, diabetes, HIV patients and patients undergoing chemotherapy or other treatments that could suppress their immune system face weeks of waiting after supplies of the flu vaccine are about to run out. Dr Ian James from Spring House Surgery, Chorley Old Road, Bolton, said: "I have very little vaccine left.

"It's a disgrace and happens to some extent every year. I haven't been giving it to people, other than those in the most at risk groups. It mystifies me why it takes so long to manufacture more of the vaccine when we're running low on supplies."

Panic about the possibility of a bird flu pandemic has seen worried patients across the country flock to their GPs for a flu vaccine, even though it would not protect against the infection, resulting in a shortage nationally.

An extra eight million people throughout the UK have been added to the priority groups, as carers and people with chronic liver disease have been added to the target list.

Pensioner John Turner, aged 65, from Bromley Cross, was told two weeks ago that his local doctor's surgery could not give him the vaccine, but he has now been given an appointment.

He said: "This needs to be brought to the public's attention because there will be patients out there who are much needier than me and something needs to be done about it."

Department of Health chiefs have now issued a warning to GPs, telling them to only give the potentially life-saving injection to the most at risk groups, as the country's 14 million doses are almost exhausted.

A further 400,000 doses that were stockpiled by the government will also soon be gone and it is not thought further stock will be delivered until late January next year.

Whitehall bosses are currently in discussions with manufacturers in a bid to secure more of the vaccine.

Public health specialist for Bolton's Primary Care Trust Graham Munslow said: "GPs do need to prioritise.

"Those in the most at risk categories should stay in contact with their surgery, who will be able to advise them when vaccine will become available."