Children's flu and pain medications in short supply across B.C.
An unprecedented cold and flu season coupled with supply chain issues is leading to a shortage of liquid Advil and Tylenol for kids across British Columbia.
At Fort Royal pharmacy in Victoria, kids’ liquid pain and fever medicationss are in short supply. Owner Vik Bawa said he's had frantic parents stopping in to get what they can amid a country-wide shortage. The pharmacy still has a few bottles of the less popular grape flavour.
"We've been feeling a shortage for the past couple of weeks," explained Bawa. "Even the big box stores like Walmart and Shoppers, they're feeling the crunch."
According Haleon, Advil's parent company, COVID-19 and an “unprecedented” cold and flu season are spiking demand, while supply chain issues and shortages of raw materials and labour are decreasing supply.
"We are working tirelessly with our suppliers, manufacturing partners, and the government to address these issues and return to inventory levels that are aligned to current demand,” the company said in a statement.
While acetaminophen and ibuprofen are popular among parents, there are alternatives, according to the B.C. Pharmacy Association. The key, said president Jamie Wigston, is to talk to a pharmacist first, as typically smaller doses of adult versions of the drugs may be used. He said pharmacies may be able to compound what's available and mix it with a syrup to make a liquid.
"It's not as though you can't get any of those products, you may not be able to get them as you had before," Wigston added.
Drug Shortages Canada reports other kids’ medications may also be hard to find. The website said Tempra Infant Drops is experiencing a shortage. Another generic manufacturer reports its chewable acetaminophen tablets for kids are in short supply as well.
And while the shortages may make families want to stock up, experts say that could just make things worse.
"It's not as if you have to go in, put your hand on the shelf and brush everything into your cart," said Wigston. “There are many options right now."
The Health Ministry said it’s monitoring the situation. In a statement, officials said while some stores may see intermittent shortages, the government has been informed there’s adequate supply at the wholesale level. "The B.C. Ministry of Health is working with Health Canada, other provinces and territories as well as various stakeholders to address concerns about supply level of these products," the statement added.
BC Children's Hospital confirmed to CTV News that it has "sufficient supply" in stock for patients.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.