SEVERAL GP surgeries and chemists in Merseyside have run out of the flu vaccine, leaving “at-risk” patients unable to obtain the jab.

Last night, health chiefs urged people with underlying health conditions to still come forward, and added vaccines would be dispatched to where they were needed.

Dr Rob Barnett, chair of Liverpool’s Local Medical Committee, said demand had spiralled during the last week, after a number of swine flu deaths emerged.

The two latest victims in Merseyside are thought to be Julie Roberts, a 45-year-old who worked in Childwall schools, and mum-of-two Hilary Robinson, 37, from Ormskirk, who died on Christmas Eve.

The Daily Post has been contacted by several patients unable to obtain the flu jab. Stanley Hulme, 72, from Waterloo, has waited two weeks for his vaccine so far, after his GP and three local chemists ran out.

He said: “My doctor gave me a prescription and I took it to Boots two weeks ago, but they have had none in at all. I have trekked around two other chemists in the bad weather to be told there are none left there either.”

Dr Barnett said: “There has been a hike in demand over the last few days for the flu vaccine. Most practices will have used up what they ordered in October, November time.

“My own practice ordered vaccines based on last year’s figures, and by mid-December ran out.

“We managed to get more and held a flu clinic, mostly for pregnant women.

“But now we are getting people saying they want the vaccine who refused it a couple of months ago.

“So we have issued prescriptions to patients to get them from chemists. Some have been successful, but some not.

“I have been told there is enough in the country, there is no need to panic, but GPs will only order in what they think they will need.”