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Antibiotic to treat respiratory issues in short supply
ABC NEWS (Australia)
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6/12/2024
There is a critical shortage of a key antibiotic used to treat children with respiratory issues and demand is growing as winter illnesses ramp up. Families are going to multiple pharmacies to fill scripts, with alternatives also hard to find.
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00:00
A coughing baby and a frustrated mum.
00:05
16-month-old Miles Hooper has pneumonia for the second time in months.
00:10
He needed antibiotics but they're out of stock, prompting his mum to recruit her mother-in-law
00:15
to help with the ring around.
00:18
I think between the two of us we probably called a dozen chemists.
00:21
Pharmacists say they see mums like Kyanne Hooper every day.
00:25
We're getting parents come in, they're quite desperate, they're stressed out, they've got
00:28
a sick child at home and they're seeking antibiotics that they've been to five, seven, ten pharmacies
00:34
and unfortunately we just don't have it.
00:37
They're after the liquid form of azithromycin that treats whooping cough, chest infections
00:42
and breathing issues.
00:43
GPs say they'll work with pharmacists but it takes time.
00:47
We know that we'll be able to find a solution to this problem working together because often
00:51
the first, second and even third line choice for antimicrobial drugs are not available
00:56
at the moment.
00:57
But there's a shortfall of 424 medications in Australia and another 67 are likely to
01:03
be affected.
01:06
Azithromycin is one on the critically low supply list with 11 more to come.
01:11
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says new government policies should improve manufacturing
01:16
so there'll be fewer shortages into the future.
01:20
But that's unlikely to make a difference this winter.
01:22
A lot of parents will find themselves in a position where they feel they have no option
01:26
but to go to an emergency department, which is good for no one really.
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