World

Cold medicine shortage in Canada: blame demand

In the midst of a season with high rates of flu, respiratory and COVID-19 infections, pharmacies across Canada are reporting shortages of cold and flu medicine that one expert says is made worse by high demand.

Health Canada confirmed the shortages after a snap poll conducted by the Canadian Pharmacists Association in December found that 25% of pharmacies did not have an adult supply of cold and flu medicines and 62% had a minimum supply.

The association’s Director of Pharmacology Daneille Paes explained that while pharmacies continue to receive adult volumes of pain relievers, the ongoing shortage is due to high demand.

Paes told CTV’s Your Morning on Tuesday: “It’s just coming in, it’s just not on the shelves and so we’re continuing to find challenges as we navigate these unprecedented times as activities unfold. Buyer activity is only circulating at a high level.”

The high demand is not unexpected at this time of year, as many Canadians often get sick during the holiday season, Paes explained.

The nationwide shortage follows a months-long shortage of painkillers for children in Canada. While additional shipments of children’s painkillers were sent to Canada in the fall, Paes said demand increased earlier than usual due to the nature of this year’s flu season.

“We can see this as an opportunity to realize that virus season is unpredictable. Usually during downtime or during that lull is when manufacturers stock up on their stock and we didn’t get a chance to do that because it started so early this year,” she said.

Canada experienced an unprecedented flu season that quickly turned into a pandemic as flu cases spiked, mixed with waves of RSV and COVID-19 infections. At its peak, Canada’s FluWatch reported more than 8,000 flu cases, particularly among young Canadians aged 0-19.

Since then, the Contagion rate has dropped 58%, according to the latest FluWatch report, but Paes says Canadians need to continue to take health measures like washing hands and staying home when sick to avoid spreading the virus. spread more.

For those who currently have a cold, Paes recommends consulting your GP to try alternative medications or treatments to seek remission.

“Depending on what your symptoms are, you may be able to find an alternative that helps give you some comfort while you get better,” she says. “It takes about 7 to 10 days to clear the infection, so during that time you just need to give your body the rest and hydration it needs to heal.”



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