Drugstores Limit Purchases of Children's Pain-Relief Medicine, as Cold-and-Flu Season Peaks Early

By Yehudit Garmaise

Today is only the first day of winter, but New York's cold-and-flu season, especially among children, is already in full swing: leading major pharmacy chains to limit purchases of Children's Tylenol, other over-the-counter meds, and the prescription antibiotic amoxicillin.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the short supply of many cold-and-flu medications is due to increased demand.

"This is the earliest peak in influenza we have seen in more than a decade,” the Consumer Healthcare Products Association added. “As a result, sales of pediatric internal analgesics are up 65% compared to last year.

In Boro Park, all local pharmacies face significant shortages in cold and flu medications. Medicine Chest Pharmacy, at 4407 15th Ave., for instance, is already sold out of regular Tylenol and Amoxil, which is for children, reported Daniel, the store’s manager, who added that he has only a low stock of the kosher version of acetaminophen.

Customers who go online or head to CVS Health, for instance, will face a two-product limit on all kids' over-the-counter fever-reducing products, confirmed CBS MoneyWatch. 

Walgreens also limits each online purchase to six over-the-counter fever reducers, and Rite Aid limits online customers to a maximum of four grape flavor, 4 oz. Children's Tylenol.

Customers who don't find what they need on store shelves should ask the pharmacists for other options, advised Rite Aid.