A wave of infections across the United States has led to a run on certain over-the-counter medications, and some retailers are limiting purchases to deal with the seasonal demand.
CVS Health and Walgreens are both limiting how many children’s fever reducing products customers can buy. The retailers confirmed the move as the U.S. faces a “tripledemic” of a high number of cases of influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicted an early and intense flu season this year, and RSV and COVID-19 have also created huge demand for OTC medicines, as well as impacted hospitals. Retailers are enacting purchasing limitations in an effort to avoid panic-buying or excess buying as demand rises.
“Retailers nationwide are experiencing supplier fulfillment challenges due to increased demand of over-the-counter pediatric fever reducing products,” Walgreens said in a statement. “While Walgreens continues to have products to support our customers and patients, we have put into effect an online only purchase limit of [six] per online transaction to prevent excess purchasing behavior.”
CVS Health is limiting purchases to two per customer, news outlets have confirmed. In addition, Kroger is also limiting purchases of children's pain medicine to two products per customer, Bloomberg Law reported.
According to the Consumer Health Products Association (CHPA), limiting purchases will help prevent shortages of the medications due to excess purchasing behaviors.
"Supplies of these products are being replenished as quickly as possible, and there is not a widespread shortage in the U.S.,” CHPA said in a statement. “However, with demand for children’s pain and fever medicines reaching unprecedented levels following this early and severe flu season (along with cases of RSV and COVID), we understand why some retailers have adjusted to impose limits on purchases. This prevents ‘stock ups’ and ensures the availability of these products to as many consumers as possible.
CHPA also said this year’s flu season is significantly earlier than the last decade, and “sales of pediatric internal analgesics are up 65% compared to the same time last year.”
Fortunately, flu numbers are improving slightly, with U.S. cases declining for the third week in a row, CHPA said this week.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."