PHARMACIES are facing shortages of two vital antibiotics used to treat whooping cough as the dangerous bug outbreak continues. There have been 4,793 cases of the illness in England in 2024 - more than five times seen across the whole of 2023. The disease, which is most serious in children, has claimed the lives of eight infants between January and May.
The map [above] reveals whooping cough hotspots across England and Wales, based on suspected cases reported by GPs. Dr Leyla Hannbeck of the Independent Pharmacies Association told the Sun the shortages are "stressful for parents" who are being sent on a wild goose chase to find the right prescription. "There are still other antibiotics available," she said.
"But if the [medicine shortage] situation doesn't improve soon it could get dangerous." While they may not relieve symptoms, the drugs can stop the infection from spreading to others. Erythromycin 250mg tablets, one of the most widely used antibiotics for whooping cough, are currently "out of stock" and liquid clarithromycin, preferred for babies, is in short supply.
The latest medicine supply issue suggests medicine shortages in the UK are going from bad to worse. In 2022, during an outbreak of Strep A , clarithromycin and penicillin were widely unavailable. There have also been ongoing problems with the supply of hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) drugs, ADHD medicines , antidepressants and, most recently, insulin .
For whooping cough, GPs can prescribe one of four antib.
