Professor Michael Kidd has admitted governments are struggling to deliver sufficient flu shots to meet demand from GPs, potentially jeopardising efforts to vaccinate vulnerable patients also facing the threat of coronavirus.

The Federal Government has been encouraging doctors to immunise as many patients as possible against influenza in April — especially the elderly and those with chronic conditions.

The push to go early is intended to maximise influenza immunity within the community in time for the predicted peak of COVID-19, reducing the risk of a dangerous double-up of the two respiratory infections.

But reports suggest many GP clinics around Australia have already run short of vaccine stocks, including the NIP enhanced quadrivalent vaccine for over-65s.