Pharmacies see children’s medication shortage during early flu surge

[KSTP-TV News, December 08, 2022] Minnesota pharmacies are seeing a shortage in some common over-the-counter medications for children, as the state deals with an early surge in influenza.

The latest data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows 501 Minnesotans were hospitalized this week, bringing the state’s total number of flu-related hospitalizations this season to 1,857 — already more than double all of last year.

Amid the surge in sicknesses, pharmacists are reporting shortages of infant and children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

“It’s the first time I can remember it. Occasionally you run into shortages, but I have never seen anything like this in my career and I’ve been a pharmacist now for 37 years,” said Tim Gallagher, director of outpatient and specialty pharmacies at Allina Health.