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WASHINGTON — The Biden administration stated Wednesday it’ll launch cans of prescription flu medicine from the Strategic Nationwide Stockpile to states as flu sufferers proceed to flock to hospitals and physician’s workplaces throughout the nation.
This yr’s flu season hit exhausting and early. Some individuals are even noticing empty cabinets in pharmacies and grocery shops when speeding for over-the-counter medicines as circumstances have elevated. The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention estimates the flu has resulted in 150,000 hospitalizations and 9,300 deaths up to now this season.
“Jurisdictions will be capable of get the assist they should preserve Individuals wholesome as flu circumstances spike this winter,” stated Daybreak O’Connell, assistant secretary for well being and security preparedness and response Division of Human Providers, which oversees the CDC, issued a press release.
States will be capable of request doses of the prescription flu drug Tamiflu, which is being held within the Strategic Nationwide Stockpile, from HHS, the federal government stated. The division doesn’t disclose what number of doses will likely be made out there.
This flu season follows a nasty spike in RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, circumstances in kids, and simply as COVID-19 circumstances are rising — once more.
Spot shortages of over-the-counter painkillers and medicines, significantly for youngsters, have been reported in shops throughout the nation.
For instance, CVS Well being has positioned a two-product restrict on all pediatric ache relievers bought at its pharmacies or on-line. Walgreens limits prospects to 6 on-line purchases of over-the-counter antipyretic merchandise for youngsters.
The Meals and Drug Administration has not reported a scarcity of Tamiflu. However the federal company says the prescription antibiotic amoxicillin is in brief provide on account of elevated demand.
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AP Medical Author Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report.
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