Nation-wide shortage of whooping cough vaccine is 'quite severe': Pharmacist
Stocks of whooping cough vaccine have been running out at chemists around Australia because of a surge in demand.
Rick Samini from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia said they are having a hard time keeping up the supply.
“The shortage has been very acute and has been happening for the last few months,” told 7 News.
“It's quite severe.”
Vaccine stocks have been hit and miss for months as manufacturers struggle to meet demand, with more than 23,000 whooping cough cases reported in the last year.
While supply is guaranteed for children and pregnant women, others are nervous about sourcing the vaccine.
Westmead Hospital paediatrician Nick Wood told 7 News the medicine has been in high demand for the past five years.
“Whooping cough epidemics come every two to three years and certainly there was a spike in 2011 - and it seems to be sustained since that time.”
Vaccination stock is guaranteed for babies, toddlers, teenagers and pregnant women and the services are all provided for free.
Dr Andrea Forde from GSK Australia, a company which manufactures the vaccine, said the shortage should ease soon.
“The vaccine is available in Australia, it has been brought in, we have increased supply over and above the 60 per cent that we increased it last year.
“We're talking about maybe a couple of weeks.”
In the meantime, anyone who is desperate for a vaccine should continue to check chemists regularly.
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News break – February 16
