5 month wait for critical vaccine

Press/Media: Expert Comment

Description

Supply chains for chicken pox vaccine

Impacts of medicine shortages

Subject

Supply shortage of recommended boster doses of chicken pox vaccine

Period10 Aug 2025

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • Title5-month wait for critical vaccine
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletThe Advertiser, The Herald Sun, others
    Media typePrint
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date10/08/25
    Descriptiondults and children not eligible for a free chickenpox vaccine are facing up to a five-month delay to receive the jab due to an increase in demand and a medicine shortage.

    There are two different chickenpox vaccines experiencing shortages due to an unexpected spike in demand, according to the Therapeutic Goods Association.

    One is currently only available through government and national immunisation programs and won't be accessible again privately until at least the end of next month.

    The “limited availability” of the other is likely to linger until at least January due to there being no other suppliers.
    Producer/AuthorRachel Riley
    PersonsMark Morgan