Walgreens, CVS limit kids’ meds amid tripledemic

• CVS and Walgreens are limiting how much children’s pain medicine customers can buy.
• It is during winter “tripledemic” of respiratory illnesses.
• CVS stated it will only sell two painkillers.

CVS and Walgreens are limiting how much children’s pain medicine customers can buy amid a winter “tripledemic” of respiratory illnesses.

CVS stated it will only sell two painkillers. Walgreens sells six pediatric fever reducers over the counter.

Walgreens: Due to increased demand and supply constraints, over-the-counter pediatric fever-reducing drugs are scarce.

Companies say the cap applies to online and pharmacy purchases.

Walmart said in a statement that despite increasing demand for pediatric medication this year, no purchase limits are in place.

An HHS representative said the department was watching rising drug demand.

“Every operating division of HHS is engaged and playing a critical role”

In a second statement, the FDA said it can’t order companies to manufacture pharmaceuticals, but it’s working closely with them to “identify, mitigate, prevent, or decrease the consequences of intermittent or elevated demand of specific goods.”

“The FDA recognizes manufacturers expect availability to improve,” the statement added.

This fall, newborns and preschoolers caught the flu and various respiratory diseases, including RSV.

A severe and invasive form of strep has killed at least 15 youngsters in the UK since mid-September.

As of Monday, 78% of inpatient beds in over 5,000 hospitals throughout the country were full. According to data, nearly the same percentage of ICU beds were used.

According to CDC figures released Friday, flu cases remained high but reduced in some places.

Nine youngsters died last week, increasing the season’s total to 30. 150,000 flu hospitalizations and 9,300 deaths were predicted.

Many young children stayed home during the coronavirus outbreak three years ago, leaving their immune systems vulnerable, researchers say.

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