Hospitals not common place for whooping cough vaccine
THE health department has again denied there is a shortage of whooping cough vaccine in Queensland after two hospitals were unable to provide the vaccine to patients.
The department's communicable diseases unit senior director Heidi Carroll said all hospitals involved in the whooping cough vaccination program were responsible for their own ordering and that most vaccinations occurred with private GPs or at medical clinics.
The department stood by its earlier statement that there was no shortage of vaccines in Queensland.
This was despite reports that earlier this week a Gladstone woman was unable to receive the vaccine at Gladstone and Rockhampton hospitals because the hospitals were waiting for an order to come in.
"When GPs or hospital and health services place an order to a Queensland Health vaccine ordering centre, this is processed and the supplier can normally deliver within two business days," Dr Carroll said.
The department also confirmed there had been an increase in demand for the vaccine following the death of a baby in Western Australia.
Hospitals were also not a common place for people to receive the whooping cough vaccinations, Dr Carroll said.
"Of the 3615 vaccinations given to pregnant women (as of March 25), 3437 were given in medical centres/private practices and only 178 in hospitals and health services," she said.
The Department of Health supplies the vaccine to the school and childhood immunisation programs and for pregnant women.
The vaccine for pregnant women is free and provided to GPs and hospital and health services to administer.
The vaccine is sourced from an overseas vaccination company called Sanofi Pasteur.
VACCINE FACTS
Each week the state's communicable diseases unit receives orders for the whooping cough vaccine that are usually delivered within two business days.
Once it is delivered, a notice is sent to the health department.
This is a list of all of the health facilities that received the vaccine in the week leading up to the Easter weekend.
The department was unable to provide a list of all health services that participate in the immunisation program.
HOSPITAL LIST
North West Private Hospital
Mount Morgan Hospital
Woorabinda Multi-purpose Health Service
Blackwater Hospital
Gemfields Outpatients Clinic
Longreach Hospital
Tambo Primary Health Centre
Isisford Primary Health Centre
Barcaldine Hospital
Aramac Primary Healthcare Centre
Muttaburra Primary Healthcare Centre
Blackall Hospital
Cherbourg Community Hospital
Warwick Hospital
Goondiwindi Health Services
Toowoomba Health Service - Kobi House
Gold Coast University Hospital
John Flynn Hospital
Ayr District Hospital
Mount Isa Base Hospital
Mckinlay Shire Multipurpose Health Service
Ingham Health Service
Bowen Hospital
Hughenden Hospital
Home Hill Hospital
Collinsville MPHS
Coen Primary Health Clinic
Thursday Island Hospital
Weipa Integrated Health Service
Kowanyama Primary Health Care Centre
Cooktown Hospital
Normanton Hospital
Atherton Hospital
Tully Hospital (pharmacy department)
Gurriny Yealamucka Primary Health Care Centre
Hopevale Primary Health Care Centre
Babinda District Hospital
Dimbulah Health Clinic
Mornington Island Health Service
Quilpie Hospital
Injune Multipurpose Health Service
Morven Hospital
St George Hospital
Dirranbandi Multipurpose Health Service
Cunnamulla Hospital
Charleville Hospital
Surat Multi-Purpose Health Service
Ipswich Hospital
