Close X
Friday, November 22, 2024
ADVT 
National

Kids' pain meds hitting pharmacy shelves: Duclos

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Nov, 2022 10:46 AM
  • Kids' pain meds hitting pharmacy shelves: Duclos

OTTAWA — Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says the previously announced one million units of imported kids' pain relievers are starting to arrive on pharmacy shelves, while an additional 500,000units have been ordered and are expected over the next few weeks.

A separate shipment of kids' pain relievers from Australia are headed for hospitalsand domestic production has ramped up, Duclos said at a news conference Friday morning.

Parents across Canada have been scrambling to manage their children's fever and pain as rates of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza skyrocket amid a dire shortage of pediatric acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Last week, Health Canada said the one million imported units will be almost identical to the medications that are authorized in this country, typically known by the brand names Tylenol and Advil.

“In some places, the shelves already show those units received. In other places it might take an additional day or so," Duclos said.

"We expect that in the next week the availability of those doses will be quite clear in shelves across community pharmacies across the country.”

Duclos said that in addition to the emergency imports, domestic production is increasing to meet demand, noting more than 1.1 million units of children's Advil products have been made by producer Haleon in November alone for the Canadian market.

The Canadian Pharmacists Association confirmed to The Canadian Press shipments have started to arrive, and it expects products will be seen on store shelves over the next few days and into next week.

"We’re hopeful that this will start to bring some relief to parents and caregivers and help address our immediate needs," the group said in a statement.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said that COVID-19, RSV and influenza are continuing to co-circulate at high levels.

While RSV activity seems to have levelled off, Tam said she expects it to remain elevated for weeks to come.

There's a "steep rise" in influenza activity, affecting an unusually high number of children and teenagers, she said.

Pediatric hospitals across Canada are reporting a "sharp increase" in flu-related hospitalizations among kids 16 years of age and younger, Tam noted.

There is no vaccine for RSV, but Tam urged Canadians to get the flu shot and keep up to date on their COVID-19 vaccination, as well as take other infection control precautions such as staying home when sick, wearing masks and washing hands.

MORE National ARTICLES

Man in court on murder charge of B.C. Mountie

Man in court on murder charge of B.C. Mountie
Jongwon Ham appeared virtually in court on Wednesday after a significant delay wearing a red shirt, a beard and his black hair reached past his shoulders. Ham was ordered remanded until Nov. 24 while he worked on getting a lawyer. The 37-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang.

Man in court on murder charge of B.C. Mountie

Vancouver Police investigates after security guard threatened with knife

Vancouver Police investigates after security guard threatened with knife
The incident happened on October 27 at around 7:30 p.m., after security for Hotel Georgia asked the suspect, who was loitering in the breezeway of the hotel, to leave the area. The suspect pulled a knife from his jacket and approached the security guard.

Vancouver Police investigates after security guard threatened with knife

B.C. woman's remains found 32 years after death

B.C. woman's remains found 32 years after death
RCMP say the human remains were discovered last month in Connaught Hill Park. Police say with the help of the BC Coroners Service, it was able to identify the remains as those of Donna Charlie, who was killed in 1990.

B.C. woman's remains found 32 years after death

Surrey man charged in connection to uttering threats to an American journalist

Surrey man charged in connection to uttering threats to an American journalist
On November 10, 2022, 38 year-old Nicholas Sullivan was charged with five counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm through social media. He is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

Surrey man charged in connection to uttering threats to an American journalist

Xi confronts and warns Trudeau over media briefing

Xi confronts and warns Trudeau over media briefing
"Everything we discuss has been leaked to the paper; that's not appropriate," Xi told Trudeau through an interpreter who was with Xi when the pair met at an event during the G20 summit.

Xi confronts and warns Trudeau over media briefing

No mask mandate for B.C.: health officer

No mask mandate for B.C.: health officer
Dr. Bonnie Henry said while influenza cases are up, 90 per cent of people in the province have some immunity to the COVID-19 virus through vaccination, infection or both. Henry said masks are an important tool, but they should be used in situations where it makes sense, including in health-care settings.

No mask mandate for B.C.: health officer