The high-dose vaccine, which is recommended for vulnerable people, is not yet available in Luxembourg this autumn.

Last week, Luxembourg's Superior Council for Infectious Diseases (CSMI) issued guidance to healthcare professionals, recommending that people aged 65 or over and medically vulnerable people should receive a high-dose flu vaccine instead of the standard flu jab.

However, there is one issue with this guidance: the high-dose vaccine is not yet available in Luxembourg pharmacies. The pharmacy syndicate published a statement expressing their disappointment at not being involved in the decision in advance.

When asked, Director of Health Dr Jean-Claude Schmit said the new high-dose vaccine was due to be delivered over the coming week. He went on to say that too few people in Luxembourg are taking up flu vaccinations in general.

"Particularly among people over 65, we know the vaccination rate has been sitting at around 42% for years. It is not getting better. We also know that other countries have much higher vaccination rates."

Dr Schmit did not wish to comment on the criticism filed by the pharmacy syndicate last week, choosing instead to direct the question to the Minister of Health, in response to a parliamentary query lodged by the CSV.