Chief health officer responds to nationwide liquid antibiotic shortage

Queensland’s chief health officer has reassured worried parents that there are “measures in place” amid a shortage of liquid antibiotics to treat respiratory illness in kids.

A nationwide shortage of liquid antibiotics to treat respiratory illnesses, including whooping cough, in children has sparked the chief health officer to reassure worried parents that there is still treatment available.

The country is experiencing a shortage of the liquid form of azithromycin. Global supplies are strained following epidemics of pertussis (whooping cough) and other respiratory illnesses across the world.

But Queensland pharmacists will still be able create suitable alternatives from the tablet form of the drug.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Commonwealth Government are aware of the trouble accessing liquid azithromycin.

“I want to reassure Queenslanders that our hospitals have appropriate measures in place to deal with these supply issues. Our hospitals continue to manage and effectively treat children with pertussis and other respiratory infections who end up in hospital,” Dr John Gerrard said.

“But these are serious illnesses and the best way to keep you and your family well is to get vaccinated,” he said.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard stressed that vaccines were the best protection. Picture: Tertius Pickard

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia Acting National President and Queensland branch president Chris Owen encourages parents to call into their community pharmacy to discuss alternative treatments.

“We’re here to help. Adjusting dose forms is part of our job. It’s something pharmacists are trained to do and have always done,” he said.

“Doing this with azithromycin to effectively treat pertussis and other respiratory infections in children is no different.”

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Queensland President Shane MacDonald said pharmacists

understand the anxiety that medication shortages can cause for families.

“Rest assured, we are working tirelessly to ensure that every child gets the medications they need,” he said.

The latest Queensland Health data shows that in the week beginning June 3 there were 2036 cases of Covid, 1345 cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), 206 cases of whooping cough and 1232 cases of influenza in the state.

Infectious disease experts have warned about a rise in influenza cases in the coming weeks, with the state’s children seriously under vaccinated.

Only 13.8 per cent of children under five are vaccinated against the flu and 25 per cent of children under the age of 15.