A shortage of flu vaccinations happened despite 5,600 doses being ordered – an increase of 1,400 on a normal year, the Department of Health has revealed.

But a spokeswoman for the department said officials were working to get another 2,000 vaccinations delivered to the island.

Walk-in flu vaccinations were cancelled at Hamilton Health Centre earlier this month owing to an “atypical surge in demand”.

A shipment of flu shots from the UK is being rerouted after British Airways flights, which were scheduled to carry the shots, were cancelled.

A spokeswoman for the department said: “The Department of Health usually orders 4,200 doses and usual administration occurs in November for the bulk of the vaccines.”

The vaccines were given at the Flu Express pop-up service and at GP practices.

The spokeswoman added that rest homes and the vulnerable adult populations had got their vaccines from community health nurses, at their GPs or at the Flu Express sites.

She added: “Nurses on site at rest homes administer the flu vaccine to residents, while the community health nurses go into the homes of non-ambulatory residents to administer the vaccine.

“Vaccines were also sent to the Department of Corrections.”

The Flu Express clinic at the rubber tree near Warwick Post Office on Middle Road dealt with 660 visitors on its first day last month – 33 per up on the numbers seen in previous years.