A SHORTAGE of flu vaccines is being blamed on panic over bird flu.

Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Primary Care Trust ordered an extra 3,000 doses of the vaccine this winter.

Nine out of 10 pensioners have received flu jabs this year, compared with the usual seven out of 10.

A trust spokesman said: "Because of Department of Health statements about bird flu there was much greater take up than usual.

"But the flu vaccine offers no protection against bird flu."