Community News

Flu season in full swing, and meds can be hard to find

Posted on December 14th, 2022 By: Vince Dice

A “triple-demic” is clogging Washington health care facilities, the state Department of Health warned this week. And over-the-counter medicine to treat flu, COVID-19 and RSV symptoms are hard to find.

The situation is straining the state’s health care system, DOH leaders said in a media briefing Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Both DOH and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health District classify current flu activity as “very high.” The most recent data posted by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department shows that 12.3% of visits to Pierce County emergency rooms and urgent cares were for flu-like illnesses during the week ending Dec. 3.

“The strain on the health care system is real,” said Lacy Fehrenbach, deputy secretary of prevention, safety and health for the state Department of Health. “The strain has been driven by pediatrics up until recently. There’s now a lot of strain in the adult system as well. We’re seeing that in the wait list to be admitted” at some hospitals.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to halt the spread of flu, public health providers say. Centers for Disease Control

Flu in the Gig Harbor area

Local providers report a similar spike in respiratory illnesses, particularly flu.

“What we’re hearing a lot especially is, anyone who’s in a community-type setting — school or daycare — they’re really getting hit by it,” said Jessica Hopkins, clinic director at Gig Harbor Primary Care.

Peninsula School District confirms that. Several schools reported at least 10% of students absent on a number of recent days, a trigger for reporting data to local health jurisdictions.

On Dec. 5, nearly a quarter of Key Peninsula Middle School students (24%) missed school. Vaughn, Evergreen, Minter Creek and Harbor Heights elementaries, along with Goodman Middle School, all reported days with more than 10% of students absent in the past few weeks.

Washington is the only West Coast state with “very high” levels of influenza-like illness activity, according to the state Department of Health. Washington Department of Health

Scarcity of medications

Meanwhile, over-the-counter cold and flu medications are increasingly difficult to find. It’s not only a problem here — national reports indicate the same.

Olympic Pharmacy in Gig Harbor is among the many pharmacies struggling to keep kids’ cold and flu medicine on its shelves.

“Like many others, we are doing our best to keep our shelves stocked right now,” Olympic vice president of compliance and operations Tammy Kvinsland said in an email. “There are many products that are out of stock from the manufacturers, including children’s brand fever and pain medicines.”

Hopkins said she experienced this as a consumer recently when trying to buy pediatric ibuprofen for a family member. Everywhere she looked, pharmacists said it was on back order.

Shelves for children’s cold and flu medicine are largely empty at the Walgreen’s in Gig Harbor and other area pharmacies. Vince Dice

The state Department of Health is monitoring the situation, according to an email from spokesman John Doyle.

“Cold and flu medication shortages appear to be caused by unprecedented demand for medications because of this surge in illness — not due to any specific production issues,” Doyle wrote. “This is a challenging situation for providers and pharmacies across the nation and will not resolve until manufacturers are able to replenish supplies.”

Olympic Pharmacy’s Kvinsland said customers should check with pharmacists to discuss alternatives when they find shelves empty.

Don’t hoard meds

Jenny Arnold, CEO of the Washington State Pharmacy Association, said the shortages are particularly acute for pediatric acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Some prescription antibiotics also are affected.

“This shortage seems to be caused by unprecedented demand – one retailer I talked with has seen over twice the demand over last year for the OTC products,” Arnold said in an email.

She said parents should keep in mind that while acetaminophen and ibuprofen are useful for treating fevers and pain, they aren’t always necessary for children who only have a runny nose.

“Please don’t panic purchase, just purchase what you need when you need it,” Arnold said.

State Health Secretary Dr. Umair Shah said at the Dec. 13 news briefing that some prescription drugs used to treat influenza symptoms, particularly Tamiflu and amoxicillin, are also in short supply.

“Those are the ones that both statewide and across the country are the prime concerns for shortages,” Shah said. Public health officials are encouraging “judicious use of resources by our health care providers. They’re very good at that, especially at times like this.”

Stress on hospitals

State officials emphasized the stress that the current flu season, which they said hit earlier and more severely than in recent years, is placing on hospitals.

State statistics show that hospital visits for influenza-like illnesses have spiked to the highest level since before the pandemic. COVID-19 precautions like masking and social distancing limited the spread of flu the past few years.

The percentage of hospital visits for influenza-like illnesses (ILI) is far higher this year than in any year since before the pandemic. Tacoma-Pierce County Health District

“Our hospital systems in Washington state are being overwhelmed with pediatric respiratory cases,” said Michelle Roberts, DOH’s assistant secretary for prevention and community health.

Statewide, 26 people have died from influenza so far season. Most are older people or those with underlying health conditions. But the total includes three children.

Two people in Pierce County have died from flu this year, both in their 60s with underlying health conditions.

Common-sense precautions

Health officials asked people to take common-sense precautions like washing your hands, staying home when sick, and covering your cough. And they urged people to get the flu vaccine.

“The current vaccine offers good protection against this strain,” said Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, chief science officer for DOH.

Last week, Tacoma-Pierce County Health District Director of Health Anthony L-T Chen joined other public and private health officials from around the state in recommending that people resume wearing masks when around others indoors. They cited an “an unprecedented surge in viral respiratory illnesses.”

DOH officials emphasized, however, that they have no plans to mandate wearing masks. State regulations currently require masks only in health care and correctional settings.

To reduce stress on hospitals and urgent care facilities, officials also urged people to explore alternatives to going to the ER, if it’s safe to do so. Many providers or insurers offer nurse triage lines or telehealth services.

It might be safer for some patients experiencing flu-like symptoms to call the emergency room rather than just showing up.

Shah said the flu vaccine typically takes about two weeks to reach peak effectiveness. With the Christmas and New Year holidays approaching, that makes right now the perfect time to get a shot before gathering with family and friends.

“If you’ve been waiting on getting your flu or COVID vaccine, now is the time,” Roberts said. “Our hospitals are at a crucial point and we need to do whatever possible to alleviate pressure on our already stressed health care systems.”

Children’s cold and flu medicine is difficult to find at Gig Harbor-area pharmacies. Vince Dice