People with potentially dangerous wounds have been sent on a merry chase in search of the tetanus jab in recent weeks after pharmacies and health centres failed to direct them to an alternative vaccine.

The diphtheria-tetanus vaccine has for the past five years been the only jab used in the public sector to treat dangerous wounds, a Community Care Parliamentary Secretariat spokesman said when contacted.

But this message does not seem to have been communicated to the public: those with deep wounds calling in at some health centres and pharmacies are still being told the tetanus vaccine is out of stock.

There is a “limited stock for public use” of the diphtheria-tetanus vaccine; however, those needing it are not being told this is the jab now used for dangerous wounds. Instead they are urged to call at the health centre daily to keep checking on the availability of the tetanus-only vaccine.

The Times contacted 10 pharmacies and four public health centres posing as a patient, after readers called complaining they were having trouble tracking down a jab to treat their serious wounds.

In one case at the beginning of the week, a person with a deep cut who called at a public health centre was told the tetanus vaccines were out of stock.

During the following two days he was told the vaccine had remained out of stock, and although on the third day he was initially told the same thing, he was later informed that the diphtheria-tetanus jab was available.

Some two weeks ago, a woman with a deep dog bite was informed there were no tetanus vaccines available to treat her wound. After failing to track down a jab at pharmacies, she managed to get hold of one at a private hospital.

Others were told that neither the tetanus-only nor the diphtheria-tetanus vaccines were in stock at the public health centre.

Tetanus is a disease transmitted by bacteria through open wounds and releases a poison called tetanospasmin. It could be potentially deadly because the poison attacks the nervous system and blocks nerve signals between the spinal cord and the muscles. The secretariat spokesman said that in previous months the diphtheria-tetanus vaccine had been out of stock but at the moment the primary healthcare had a limited stock for public use.

There was a lack of supply throughout the EU and the health authorities tried to import it through the only available manufacturer located in France, he said.

However, they were redirected to the local agent, through whom they managed to secure a temporary supply of multi-dose vials that were distributed to Mater Dei Hospital and primary healthcare pharmacies, including the National Immunisation Services.

He added that as soon as the diphtheria-tetanus vaccine stock went below the minimum levels at the National Immunisation Services in Floriana on August 10, the Government immediately acquired the limited stock available on the local private market.

“The Government is doing whatever possible to obtain a firm date for the pending orders, although we are informed there is a shortage of vaccine from the manufacturer. It is also using courier services to bring forward the delivery of these vaccines,” he said.