Foreign supply of children’s acetaminophen arriving in the coming weeks, Health Canada says

Health Canada has secured a foreign supply of children’s acetaminophen which will be available for sale in pharmacies in the coming weeks.“The amount to be imported will increase supply available to consumers and will help address the immediate situation,” Health Canada said in a statement Monday amid a months-long shortage of children’s pain and fever medication.The federal agency was not able to provide further details on the arrival date or quantity of medication it has secured.It urged consumers to refrain from stockpiling medications to avoid exacerbating the medication shortage at a time when hospitals are grappling with an influx of children with respiratory illness.The announcement comes as Ontario’s chief medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore issued a strong recommendation Monday for residents to mask in all indoor public settings in order to protect children from a “triple threat” of respiratory viruses, warning a possible mandate is on the table.“At this time, Canadians should buy only what they need, so that other parents and caregivers can access medication so we can meet the needs of sick children,” Health Canada said.The shortage of acetaminophen (also known by the brand name Tylenol), and ibuprofen (Advil) is a result of several factors including unprecedented demand for children’s cold and flu medications, which manufacturers say is outpacing production. Another impediment to importing medications is Health Canada’s labelling regulations which needs to meet Canadian health standards, display ingredients and warnings prominently in both English and French and include a drug identification number to let consumers know that Health Canada has approved the formulation, labelling and instructions for use.Labelling regulations are still in effect according to Health Canada.“All information related to cautions and warnings, dosing directions, ingredients, and other important details will be made available in both English and French to ensure parents and caregivers clearly understand what medication they are using and how to give it to their children,” the statement said.“This work is being done in parallel to obtaining the additional foreign supply.”Last week, federal health officials said imported medications for hospitals were on the way but had not indicated when medications for over-the-counter purchase would arrive or why there is currently a shortage in Canada but not in countries such as the U.S. and Australia.Health Canada recently approved the exceptional importation of tens of thousands of units of ibuprofen from the U.S. and acetaminophen from Australia to be distributed to hospitals first. Ibuprofen has already been imported and distribution to hospitals is underway while the arrival of acetaminophen “is expected soon,” Health Canada told the Star last week.For overwhelmed hospitals and health professionals, the news of additional supply comes as a relief. Dr. Raghu Venugopal, a Toronto emergency room physician, estimates that nearly a quarter of his patients currently are children. He said it is the highest volume of children needing treatment for respiratory illnesses he has witnessed in the two decades he has been practicing.“I hope the new supply comes soon because I think it will ease everybody’s stress. It’s one less thing to have to worry about among the many we’re dealing with right now in our health-care system,” said Dr. Allan Grill, the chief of family medicine at Markham Stouffville Hospital.Mina Tadrous, assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, said he was also reassured by Health Canada’s announcement. But he added that the imported supply is a quick fix.“We need to fix the issue with the supply chain. This doesn’t fix the problem long term,” Tadrous said. “We need to readjust what the demands are for the country and ensure the drug will meet demands in the future, especially when there is a surge of illness,” Tadrous said.Both Grill and Tadrous urged people to protect themselves in the meantime.“Get up to date with your COVID-19 and flu vaccines and please stay home if you’re sick,” Grill said.For those who are unable to find the medication, Grill suggested asking a pharmacist about compounded alternatives. “There are pharmacies that are compounding these medications. People should ask around even if their local pharmacy doesn’t provide that, hopefully it can direct them to one that does.” Ghada Alsharif is a Toronto-based staff reporter for the Star. Reach Ghada via email: galsharif@torstar.ca