While it hasn’t reached the critical stage in this area, there is a noticeable shortage of cold and flu medications along with some prescription and children’s allergy medications.
Steve Bond, pharmacist at Yurek Pharmacy, told myFM part of the problem is due to supply chain interruptions.
Bond adds he has been dealing with prescription shortages for some time and it is an inconvenience for doctors and their patients and results in trying to find alternatives when something goes on back order for an extended period.
He says the wearing of masks helped prevent the transmission of the coronavirus as well colds and other respiratory ailments, but with the lifting of mask mandates and relaxed attention to social distancing, there is an increase in cold, flu and other respiratory ailments across the province.
Compounding the issue, adds Bond, is consumers snapping up and stockpiling these products for future use when they may not be the medications they require.
If you do fall victim, Bond notes the best bet is still to rest at home.
Bond adds allergies are also a factor at this time of year and the symptoms may be similar. However, with allergies there usually isn’t an associated fever.
Written by Ian McCallum
