At the start of May, the Australian Thyroid Foundation’s (ATF) Thyroid Awareness Month, the ATF is calling upon all Australians to be aware of their thyroid health.

ATF TAM 2020 Media Release (Final).pdf

In response to ongoing concerns raised by members and patients about the limited availability of levothyroxine - marketed in Australia under the brands Oroxine^®, Eutroxsig^® and Eltroxin^® - the ATF has continued to liaise with the manufacturers, Aspen Pharmacare (Aspen), about the recent supply shortage of these medicines.

Aspen has today informed the ATF that the pharmaceutical supply chain is currently under stress due to the increase in medicines stockpiling during March, including brands of levothyroxine, as a result of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic. For this reason, Aspen has now brought forward the manufacturing of all levothyroxine brands; and has given the ATF an assurance that additional supply of these products have been released and should be available in Australian pharmacies this week.

Based on 'normal' use (i.e. the typical number of levothyroxine scripts that are filled in any given month), Aspen says it should have adequate supply to meet patient needs. Aspen is working closely with pharmacies to update them on availability of levothyroxine over the coming weeks and months, as they work to manage supply throughout the pandemic. For your information, please find below a copy of the letter from Aspen to the ATF regarding the current supply shortage of levothyroxine.

Should you have any concerns about the availability of your brand or dose of levothyroxine, please contact ATF CEO Beverley Garside via email on beverley@thyroidfoundation.org.au. 

Take care and stay safe, 

Your ATF Team

2020 marks a significant milestone for the ATF – celebrating 25 years since the organisation first began. The ATF was first established in 1995 by our Founder, Gail Ballantyne and her first committee, along with Gail’s treating specialist, Professor Steven Boyages. Their passion and commitment to set up a national thyroid patient support organisation with strong foundations has enabled it to continue onto today – 25 years later. The ATF has helped thousands of Australian thyroid patients and their families over this time and without the ATF, these people would not have the support, education and information which is available through our organisation.

Today, our organisation continues with an Executive Committee who are all volunteers. By bringing their energy and dedication to the organisation, we can continue to provide the same important services that were part of the initial goal of the ATF. Together with our Medical Advisory Team, who are all world leaders in different areas of thyroid disease, we are proud the organisation has continued to meet patients’ needs. ATF Ambassadors also give their time to promote the organisation and the importance of Good Thyroid Health whenever possible throughout Australia, via the media and other opportunities.  Most importantly, the ATF would not have lasted 25 years without our wonderful members. With your continued support through memberships, merchandise purchases and generous donations – as well as donations from the general public – our organisation has been able to continue to support Australians living with a thyroid condition. To all of you, who have played a part in our journey, we say, THANK YOU! While all events to celebrate our 25th Anniversary have been put on hold due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we look forward to updating you on these activities once the Australian Government has declared the risk of coronavirus to the community has subsided.

In this tough and unprecedented time, there is vast amounts of information circulating about COVID-19, which may be overwhelming and confusing.  Some thyroid patients have questions on how does this impact them. There is no evidence that patients with thyroid issues have something more to worry as compared to the rest of the population. What each one of us can do is take proper recommended measures that are advocated by the WHO and Health Authorities in each of your countries. Maintaining safe distance (i.e. social distancing), wearing facemask, hygienic lifestyle i.e. thoroughly washing hands will minimise the chances of exposure. Best is not to take any chances of socializing outside your house. When going out for groceries please take all the precautions and keep a safe distance from others. Also being honest with yourself when and if you think there are symptoms to isolate yourself from others will be a key to containing the spread of the virus.

We also want thank and salute the amazing healthcare and medical providers who have been working tirelessly in response to this pandemic – we appreciate your efforts to keep the people of your countries safe during this pandemic.

Governments the world over have taken measures to stop the spread of COVID 19 by temporarily closing down places and traffic where people could come in contact with each other. Please strictly adhere to the advice on ‘social distancing’, it's better to NOT take any chances. Scientific communities are still discovering more about the virus each day.

You will find the following guidance most commonly seen on professional websites, please do follow this guidance:

• Avoid close contact with people and strangers not known to you.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• It is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
• Avoid traveling if you are sick and also avoid crowded places

We understand this is a tough time for people all over the world, including our thyroid community. To ensure you have access to the right information, we have provided a few sites below, for your reference.

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

https://www.eu-patient.eu/COVID-19/covid-resource-point/

Please ensure you follow the guidance of your federal and state governments and health authorities to help contain the spread of the virus. Be sure to follow appropriate hygiene precautions and social distancing, while observing advice about self-isolation and quarantining, should you come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Please keep and stay safe in these difficult times.

Ashok Bhaseen, M.Pharm, MMS
President Thyroid Federation International

On behalf of the ATF, our thoughts are with all Australians who have been directly impacted by COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) and their families, friends and loved ones. We also want to say thank you to the amazing medical providers and healthcare professionals who have been working tirelessly in response to this pandemic – our gratitude and appreciation for your efforts to keep Australians safe throughout this period cannot be overstated.

In this unique and unprecedented time, we know there is vast amounts of information circulating about COVID-19, which may be overwhelming and confusing. As such, we wanted to provide an update for Australians living with a thyroid disorder (incl. thyroid cancer, Hashimoto’s disease or Graves disease), to address any concerns you may have about the impact of COVID-19 on your health.

We have consulted our team of Medical Advisors for advice about this issue, to ensure you have the correct information.

What you need to know

While many people with a thyroid disorder may have an autoimmune condition (such as Hashimoto’s disease), this does not mean you are ‘immuno-compromised’. The part of the immune system that’s responsible for autoimmune thyroid conditions is separate to the immune system that’s responsible for fighting off viral infections, such as coronavirus.

You shouldn’t think of yourself as being immuno-compromised if you have thyroid disease. When health experts refer to ‘immuno-compromised’ people being at higher risk of COVID-19, they are typically referring to those who may have a history of leukaemias, malignancies, or who have undertaken chemotherapy. These are considered to be a true ‘recognised immune deficiency’, and are more uncommon. In addition, any patients who may be taking steroids, such as prednisone, could also be at risk for coronavirus.

Australians with a thyroid disease should follow the same hygiene precautions as the rest of the population to limit the spread of infection.

We understand this is a daunting time for all Australians, including our thyroid community. To ensure you have access to the right information, we have provided a list of resources below, for your reference.

Please ensure you follow the guidance of our federal and state governments and health authorities to help contain the spread of the virus. Be sure to follow appropriate hygiene precautions and social distancing, while observing advice about self-isolation and quarantining, should you come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Take care and stay safe,                                           

From your ATF team.

Additional COVID-19 Resources

Telephone support: For non-clinical information about COVID-19, please call the Commonwealth Department of Health’s Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.

Online information:  For reliable information on COVID-19, please visit the healthdirect and/or Department of Health (DoH) sites.

Symptom Checker: Check your symptoms and find out if you need to seek medical attention, through this self-guided online COVID-19 Symptom Checker. 

At 11.00am on Monday 23 March, 'ABC Conversations' will be replaying its interview with ATF Medical Advisor, Professor Creswell Eastman AO, which originally aired in December 2015. Called, 'The man who saved a million brains: Creswell Eastman's pioneering work with iodine deficiency disorder', the 1-hour interview will highlight Prof Eastman's tireless work to abolish iodine deficiency throughout the world.

Listen via ABC Local Radio or via your podcast app. The program will also be broadcast on Radio National at 3.00pm.

The ATF's newest Ambassador, Channel Ten's Antoinette Latouf, recently shared her thyroid story with 10 News First. The piece also includes comments from ATF CEO, Beverley Garside. 

10 News First, 27 January 2020

Read more about Antoinette's story on 10 Daily

The Summer 2020 Issues of The House of Wellness Magazine features an article about thyroid health - called 'Check Your Neck: Thyroid disorders are more common than people realise' by journalist Sarah Marinos - including an interview with ATF CEO Beverley Garside and an ATF member story from our Treasurer, Sarah Yeates.

House of Wellness Magazine, Summer 2020 Issue - Page 1

House of Wellness Magazine, Summer 2020 Issue - Page 2

Watch new ATF Member, Ana Neves, share her thyroid story with Today Tonight - including comments from ATF CEO, Beverley Garside.

3 December 2019, Today Tonight, Channel 

A message from TFI President, Ashok Bhaseen:

"There are still many people living with some kind of thyroid disorder without diagnosis. The International Thyroid Awareness Week is now in its 11th year, and I promise we at Thyroid Federation International and its member countries won’t rest until testing and diagnosis rates improve globally. This year we’re helping people to recognize the many faces of thyroid disorders so they can visit a healthcare professional and get tested as soon as possible."

TFI Statement on 2019 International Thyroid Awareness Week