00:00A coughing baby and a frustrated mum.
00:0516-month-old Miles Hooper has pneumonia for the second time in months.
00:10He needed antibiotics but they're out of stock, prompting his mum to recruit her mother-in-law
00:15to help with the ring around.
00:18I think between the two of us we probably called a dozen chemists.
00:21Pharmacists say they see mums like Kyanne Hooper every day.
00:25We're getting parents come in, they're quite desperate, they're stressed out, they've got
00:28a sick child at home and they're seeking antibiotics that they've been to five, seven, ten pharmacies
00:34and unfortunately we just don't have it.
00:37They're after the liquid form of azithromycin that treats whooping cough, chest infections
00:42and breathing issues.
00:43GPs say they'll work with pharmacists but it takes time.
00:47We know that we'll be able to find a solution to this problem working together because often
00:51the first, second and even third line choice for antimicrobial drugs are not available
00:56at the moment.
00:57But there's a shortfall of 424 medications in Australia and another 67 are likely to
01:03be affected.
01:06Azithromycin is one on the critically low supply list with 11 more to come.
01:11Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says new government policies should improve manufacturing
01:16so there'll be fewer shortages into the future.
01:20But that's unlikely to make a difference this winter.
01:22A lot of parents will find themselves in a position where they feel they have no option
01:26but to go to an emergency department, which is good for no one really.
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