Waterloo region community, pharmacists filling a need amid shortage of children's medication

Amid a nationwide shortage of children's cold and flu medication, many parents in Waterloo region and beyond have had to rely on friends and family, neighbours and local pharmacists to get the help they need.

Cambridge's Stephanie Wilson was among those parents when her five-year-old son and eight-month-old daughter came down with a fever last week.

She had originally gone to her doctor's office suspecting her daughter was teething, but was told she may have respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

"My doctor's office couldn't offer any samples because she had run out of the Tylenol or Advil they can give out," she said. 

Wilson said she was worried about how she would be able to comfort her daughter or bring down her fever with no medication. But, thanks to the support from friends and family, Wilson was able to get medicine.

"My aunt from Prince Edward Island shipped some ... to me so I should be getting that this week and my father-in-law is coming home from the U.S. and he too is bringing some back to us because there are 10 grand kids in the family," she said.

As respiratory illnesses surge in kids, pediatric units in hospitals across Ontario are operating over capacity. Grand River Hospital's inpatient children's unit, for example, is at 150 per cent occupancy. 

The hospital said it has admitted 37 patients ages zero to 17 who have tested positive for respiratory illnesses such as influenza, RSV and COVID-19.

"We work closely every day with regional and provincial partners to plan and share resources, to ensure children have access to the care they need," a spokesperson said in a release to CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

"Community members can take steps to protect themselves and local children from respiratory viruses by continuing to wear masks, practicing frequent hand washing, staying home when you're feeling ill, and keeping your COVID-19 and influenza vaccines up-to-date."

Kari Raymer Bishop has been doing what she can from her home in Paris Ont., handing out whatever supply of children's cold and flu medication she has to parents in need.

"I started to pay attention when I was in stores," Raymer Bishop said.

"I'm a bit of a prepper and that comes from having lived overseas and having to be on my own to solve problems and I wanted to make sure we had what we needed heading into a tricky year."

Anticipating that it was going to be a tough cold and flu season, Raymer Bishop said she reached out to friends and family who may be in need and picked up a few boxes from different pharmacies or box stores on her way back from P.E.I over the summer.