--- title: Why children’s meds are in short supply - The Hustle description: Thanks to a “tripledemic,” we’re running out of kids’ meds and antibiotics. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/693500855-HS-News-Brief_2022-12-21T005336.358Z.webp --- # Why children’s meds are in short supply ![Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://53.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/53/assets/hubspot.com/web-team/WBZ/HubSpot%20Media/Blog%202021/Images/Nav/Optimized/TheHustle_Icon_Dark.svg) [Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/juliet-bennett-rylah) [Juliet Bennett Rylah Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/JBRylah) Published: December 21, 2022 Updated: October 11, 2023 First a [formula shortage](https://thehustle.co/%F0%9F%8D%BC-we-need-more-baby-formula/), and now a kids’ medicine shortage. Suffice to say, it’s a tough time to be a parent. ![Why children’s meds are in short supply](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/693500855-HS-News-Brief_2022-12-21T005336.358Z.webp?width=595&height=400&name=693500855-HS-News-Brief_2022-12-21T005336.358Z.webp) On Monday, Walgreens and CVS both announced purchase limits on children’s pain- and fever-reducers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, [per](https://www.npr.org/2022/12/20/1144363819/cvs-walgreens-childrens-fever-meds-tripledemic) *NPR*. **Why?** Unlike the formula shortage, which involved a plant shutdown, this one’s about increased demand. The US is in a so-called “tripledemic,” which means the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and covid are all circulating right now. Experts [say](https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/tripledemic-flu-rsv-and-covid-19#:~:text=There's%20no%20scientific%20definition%20for,peaking%20at%20the%20same%20time.) it’s worse than previous years because many people spent recent flu seasons masking and/or avoiding others, thus limiting their exposure to the usual viruses. Plus, many children, who are usually exposed to RSV by age three, [weren’t](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tripledemic-health-care-professionals-rsv-virus-hospitals-stockpile/) due to stay-at-home precautions. **Oh, and there’s an antibiotics shortage, too…** … which includes amoxicillin. While [amoxicillin](https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/antibiotic-shortage-what-to-know-if-you-cant-find-amoxicillin/) is used for bacterial — not viral — infections, secondary bacterial infections can occur after RSV. Erin Fox, senior pharmacy director at the University of Utah, [told](https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/if-the-antibiotics-shortage-worsens-children-with-sickle-cell-risk-preventable-deaths) *WFYI Indianapolis* that antibiotics have been among the top five US drug shortages since she began tracking them in 2001. As older, low-cost drugs, manufacturers aren’t incentivized to produce extra, per Fox. In the EU, where there’s been a spike of Strep A infections, 25 of its 27 countries are also experiencing an antibiotics shortage, [per](https://www.politico.eu/article/drugs-regulator-probes-eu-wide-antibiotics-shortage/) *Politico*. **What’s the solution?** The FDA is [working on](https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/12/health/drug-shortages-explainer/index.html) increasing supply. In the meantime: - Experts [recommend](https://news.wttw.com/2022/12/12/triple-demic-threat-causing-medication-shortages-children) getting flu and covid vaccines to reduce illness. - Check with [compounding pharmacies](https://www.pharmacist.com/Practice/Patient-Care-Services/Compounding/Compounding-FAQs#:~:text=Compounding%C2%A0is%20the%20creation%20of%20a%20pharmaceutical%20preparation%E2%80%94a%20drug), which create medicines for individual patients’ needs. - Ask your doctor or pharmacist about alternatives. 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