CVS and Walgreens pharmacy chains have limited the purchase of children’s pain relievers due to stock shortages caused by high demand. In addition to the increase in Covid transmissions, the United States is facing one of the worst flu seasons in a decade.
CVS stated that it has imposed a limit of two products per person for all children’s pain relievers at all its pharmacies and online, while Walgreens said it has set a limit of six over-the-counter pediatric fever reducers per online transaction, but is not limiting purchases of the product in stores. Rite Aid has no purchase limits for medications in stores but is restricting online purchases of grape-flavored children’s Tylenol to five units per customer.
The spikes in flu cases, R.S.V. virus, and Covid-19 have led to a 65% increase in pediatric pain reliever sales in November compared to November of last year, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), which represents many of the companies that manufacture the drugs.
The R.S.V. has left so many children sick this fall that weekly pediatric hospitalizations due to the disease are at the highest levels ever recorded. The flu, which typically peaks in February, arrived two months early and has raised hospitalization rates to the highest level for this time of year in over a decade. Covid cases are lower than in the last two Decembers, but those numbers are also rising.
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association stated that the demand for pediatric pain relievers and fever reducers is “unprecedented,” but warned against the possibility of a “widespread shortage.”
“We understand why some retailers have adjusted to impose purchase limits. This prevents ‘stockpiling’ and ensures the availability of these products for as many consumers as possible,” the association states. “While our member manufacturers are operating 24/7 to meet demand, we will continue to encourage consumers to buy only what they need so that other families can find and purchase the medications they are looking for.”
Source: The New York Times