Children’s Medicine Sales Restricted Following Rise in Respiratory Illnesses

Several stores are now limiting sales of children's medicine.

CVS Health and Walgreens have recently announced they have placed limits on how much children's medicine a single customer can purchase as demand for them soars this holiday season.

Manufacturers are already working to shore up shortages wherever they could as soon as possible, per ABC News.

Children's Medicine Limit Details

The flu season seems to have started too early in some parts of the US. According to data from the CDC, there were at least 880,000 cases of flu-like illness during the 2022-23 flu season.

To be specific, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the flu joined COVID-19 in creating a "perfect storm" of viruses this flu and holiday season, per CNET.

CBS even called the phenomenon a "tripledemic" as cases for all three illnesses increase simultaneously as winter approaches, per CBS News.

As a result, the number of positive flu tests and hospitalization saw an unprecedented increase; this influenza season may be the most severe the US has seen in years.

Some parents are even reporting that their household has been sick for weeks.

As a result of this sudden increase in flu and RSV cases, a CVS spokesperson revealed that the company has placed a two-product limit on children's pain relief products in all pharmacy locations and online.

These painkillers include Children's Tylenol, Motrin, and ibuprofen.

Meanwhile, Walgreens has also placed a similar limit to over-the-counter pediatric painkillers and fever-reducing products, citing the increased demand and various supplier challenges.

Both companies agree that they placed restrictions to keep the drugs available to everyone and avoid excess purchases.

These limitations are bittersweet for many parents like Jen Labo, who found the tripledemic making things more difficult than they already are, per NBC Connecticut.

When Will Supply Catch Up With Demand?

Unfortunately, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the group representing manufacturers of OTC medicines, stated that its members are unsure when the supply of these drugs will catch up with demand.

For those unaware, Johnson & Johnson is the company that makes Tylenol, while Haleon and Perrigo make Advil and store brands, respectively. All three drug manufacturers are considered the three major manufacturers of children's pain and fever medications and are represented by the CHPA.

Anita Brickman, the CHPA's senior vice president of communications and public affairs, said that the three manufacturers are running around the clock to supply more medications to stores.

Brickman also added that there isn't a widespread shortage that's causing the limitations. Rather, it's because of the increased demand that is causing pharmacies' supplies to fall short.

"This is the earliest peak in influenza we have seen in more than a decade," the CHPA said. "As a result, sales of pediatric internal analgesics are up 65% compared to the same last year."

In the meantime, people who don't find the OTC drug they need on store shelves should ask their pharmacist for other alternatives, per Rite Aid'd emailed statement to CBS.