Tamiflu supplies are running low
Published: November 7, 2009
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share thisST. LOUIS - It's been hard enough to find H1N1 vaccines for children. But if they get the flu, it can also be tough to get a prescription filled for the drug used to treat it.
The early and unexpected flu outbreak, along with kids' vulnerability to the illness, has created a national shortage of the liquid form of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu. The liquid drug is prescribed to small children and anyone else who has trouble swallowing pills.
The federal government last week released its last 234,000 doses of liquid Tamiflu from a national stockpile. More supplies from Roche, the manufacturer, are not expected until January.
Health officials have encouraged pharmacists to open Tamiflu capsules and mix the powder inside with a flavored syrup to create a liquid form. But the compounding process adds about 30 minutes to the prescription filling process and adds about $50 to the cost, pharmacists said.
But insurance companies don't always want to pay for it, a survey found.
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