B.C.: Pharmacies report shortage of adult cold and flu medication

Many pharmacies in the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia are reporting only having a 5%-25% of their usual stock of cold and flu medications for adults amid the rampant flu season.

The shortage comes soon after a nationwide shortage of children’s medicines like Tylenol and Advil added to the stress of the already overburdened hospitals dealing with the triple threat of Covid-19, RSV and flu that took over Canada the last few months.

Speaking to media outlets, Rudy Chin, a Vancouver-based pharmacist stated that he had never seen such a shortage in his s 27-year-long career.

“About two weeks ago it was almost zero…We literally had nothing on the shelves, and we have probably about 30 per cent [of stock right now],” he stated.

A spokesperson for the office of the Minister of Health, Guillaume Bertrand, said in a statement that the office has taken notice of the issue.

“We are closely monitoring the situation as it is evolving quickly…Our office and Health Canada is already in discussion with manufacturers here in Canada and abroad,” the spokesperson informed.