KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The CDC said the recent spike in flu cases could make medicine hard to find. 41 Action News checked in with several local pharmacies and hospitals to see if any were having trouble keeping it in stock.
About half of the pharmacies said it has been tough to keep the liquid form of Tamiflu or the generic on the shelves, which they say are often prescribed to children.
The pharmacies we spoke with did have the capsule form.
Pharmacist Brian Fink at the Hen House pharmacy in Prairie Village said they started ordering extra about a month ago. He and officials from the CDC both recommend calling ahead to make sure the pharmacy does have the medicine in stock. The pharmacy did have both in stock when 41 Action News spoke with them Thursday morning.
"We've had a few cases of that where folks have checked several pharmacies and weren't able to find the product," said Fink.
Fink also said it is not too late to get a flu shot this season. He has noticed a spike in people getting their flu shots right now at their pharmacy.
Kate O'Rourke came to get her flu shot Thursday.
"This was the third place we called," she said. "It has been all over the news and seeing everyone and how dangerous it can be once you do get it, even if you are a healthy person, has been a little scary."
The area hospitals we heard back from, including Children's Mercy, said they are not currently having an issue keeping the drug in stock.
