I have a wonderful friend who is a GP and has told me he will write a private script for anything made in Australia and gave me a copy of the Australian Vaccination Book issued by the government listing all "choices" available to parents.

Tripacel is listed. I like this vaccination. It is a 3 in 1 and relatively "clean" with regard to contents.

This is the email trail to Sanofi (order is from bottom to top)

-------------------------
From: <AdverseEvents.ANZ@sanofi.com>
Date: 3 February 2014 1:44:58 pm AEDT
To: xxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: FW: Product related query / Tripacel Vaccination

Hi Christina,

We have a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine available for adolescents and adults called Adacel.
This vaccine is indicated as a booster for persons aged 10 years and older following primary vaccination, so unfortunately will not be suitable for your children.

There is a vaccine called Quadracel which has diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio which we supplied to the Tasmania and WA governments for specific programs which have now been completed.
Unfortunately this vaccine is not available to purchase on the retail market.

Kind regards,
Xxxxxx



From: Xxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, 3 February 2014 12:37 PM
To: Adverse Events PH/AU
Subject: Re: FW: Product related query / Tripacel Vaccination

Ok thank you.

My Dr has directed me to do the research and contact the supplier.

I am looking for the minimum amount which covers particularly pertussis. Do you carry a particular brand which is nothing more than a 3 or 4 in one?

Thanks for your help



-------- Original message --------
From: AdverseEvents.ANZ@sanofi.com
Date:
To: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: FW: Product related query / Tripacel Vaccination


Dear Christina,

Thank you for your enquiry regarding Tripacel.

Unfortunately, this vaccine is not available for purchase in Australia or New Zealand, therefore no pharmacies or medical centres will have it.

We recommend you discuss with your doctor who may be able to assist with your concerns.


Kind regards,
Xxxxxxx


Xxxxxxxxxxx

Sanofi Pasteur - The Vaccines division of Sanofi
Medical Information & Pharmacovigilance Associate
12-24 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park, NSW 2113 Australia
TEL.: +61 2 8666 2219 FAX: +61 2 8666 2201

Please consider the environment before printing this email!






-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 2:28 PM
To: Medinfo Queries PH/AU
Subject: Product related query / Tripacel Vaccination

-- Identity --
I am... : A consumer
Theme : Product related query
Title : Mrs
First Name : Xxxxxx
Last Name : Xxxxxx
Profession or Publications you represent :
E-mail : xxxxxxxxx

-- Contact Details --
Address 1 : xxxxxxxx
Address 2 :
Post Code : xxxxxxx
City : Xxxxxxxxxx
Country : Australia
Telephone : xxxxxxxxxxx

-- Message --
Message : I have been trying to source a pharmacy or other stockist who carry the Tripacel vaccination for my 4 and 6 year old children. Until now, I have been told my ONLY option is the GSK IPV vax which I won't allow my children to have.

Could you please let me know how I go about ordering this to be delivered to my local pharmacy? I am happy to pay the private script fee to have this delivered.

Thanking you!

---------------------------------------

So what I gather is while pharma companies are able to - and have in the past - manufactured vaccines that were available for purchase, if it isn't supplied via govt schemes I have no entitlement to purchase this as a private script???

How is this ethical???? How is this giving consumers CHOICE?????? Why is it "offered" as a solution on paper but in reality non existent?

I am furious. I don't believe all the vaccinations are necessary. I don't believe we should be pushed to vax things we don't feel necessary.

I don't believe hib or polio necessary. Why am I forced into an "all or nothing" decision????

I hate the hold and political influence our govt holds on healthcare. How is this fair????

Anyone who makes claim that our pharma companies aren't influenced by the govt need to think again.

This is the vaccine realm. I don't even want to think about it in the context of life saving treatments and drugs.

Sorry for the vent. I am at a loss except that we will vaccinate the kids for mmr and that's it.

Interestingly in my research I found that most vaccine efficacy happens after the first dose and about 5% of the population get it on the second and sometimes third doses so the govt automatically vax those doses in every case - how about allocating those funds to more parent choices and giving parents some control over what our children get?? It seems the bad reactions occur in the subsequent doses vs the first - how have we got this so wrong???

Gosh I am so angry