Panicking people have stripped the shelves of flu jabs at Medway pharmacies.

An army of the "worried well" has cleared stocks of the vaccine as the NHS struggles to preserve supplies for vulnerable patients.

Pharmacies across the Towns that had been helping people bypass their GP by offering the jab without prescription have no clue when they will get more, the Medway Messenger has discovered.

Healthy people rushing to seek protection from the winter flu outbreak have been condemned by health experts.

Just one of Medway's about 60 pharmacies was known to be operating a waiting list for the flu jab this week.

One Medway pharmacist said: "Vaccines are flying off the shelves as soon as they arrive. People are desperate."

NHS Medway is understood to have enough vaccines for around 65,000 vulnerable people.

For the full story, pick up a copy of Friday's Medway Messenger.