CATASAUQUA, Pa. — Residual effects of the coronavirus pandemic still are being felt — and not just by people who come down with COVID-19.
When people get sick, no matter what the malady, many depend on their local pharmacy to have the medication they need.
But drug shortages seem to be a big issue in the wake of the pandemic.
- Supply chain issues continue to cause drug shortages
- Children's pain medication is one of the most recent products that are hard to come by
- A local pharmacist says to call around and ask doctors for an alternative
Supply chain issues continue to cause problems across the country, including in the Lehigh Valley. Manufacturing, quality control, surges in demand and even natural disasters can all contribute to the problem.
"Just from a work-related aspect, there have been delays in things like wheelchairs, things like formulas for infants,” Joel Powell, a nurse from Bethlehem, said.
“Things like hygiene issues, like adult garments that patients need, geriatric patients. Everything you can imagine has been impacted in some way."
High demand, low supply
Most recently the tripledemic — COVID, respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, and the flu created a high demand for children’s pain medications, which led to a widespread shortage, officials say.
“It's just the perfect storm. You have increased demand, you have increased asthma cases, increased viral cases, and all that's coming together."
Vince Hartzell, Pharmacist with Hartzell's Pharmacy
“It's just the perfect storm," said Vince Hartzell, owner of Hartzell's Pharmacy in Catasauqua.
"You have increased demand, you have increased asthma cases, increased viral cases, and all that's coming together."
"Hospitals need more, pharmacies need more, your retail stores need more, and I just don't think there's the supply there to meet it."
Hartzell said it has been easier to get bulk medication, but he needs a prescription to administer it.
“We've called pediatricians and said, ‘Hey, Johnny is sick. Can we get a prescription for acetaminophen liquid form?’"
"And most of the doctors are fine. They'll just call in or send an E-script over to us so we can dispense it to them.”
He said the problem with that is that not all insurance will cover that prescription.
Hartzell said he doesn’t see shortages going away anytime soon, but he encourages people to talk to their doctor or pharmacist to see what other medications are out there.