Area drug stores cope with Tamiflu shortage

As local H1N1 cases increase during this flu season, central New York pharmacists are feeling the added pressure to keep up with the high demand of a liquid form of Tamiflu.
Many pharmacists in the central New York area are working hard to keep up with the demand of liquid Tamiflu by making their own due to shortages from the manufacturers.
“Yes, we (at Rite Aid) are feeling the pressure, there is a great demand for the liquid form of Tamiflu, more so than in recent years,” said Keegan Harse, a pharmacist who works at the Rite Aid location on 293 state Route 104, in Oswego.
“There is great demand for the liquid Tamiflu especially because the Tamiflu tablets are only for adults, and the tablets are too strong for children,” Harse explained.
Pharmacists at the Route 104 Rite Aid location in Oswego have been making their own form of liquid Tamiflu. 
“This is the first time at Rite Aid we have had to make the liquid form ourselves because the suspensions are just not available at this time,” Harse said, noting that Tamiflu is the best flu medication for children. 
Tamiflu is helpful with preventing flu symptoms, as well as treating the flu. “Nothing over-the-counter matches up with liquid Tamiflu, it is the best flu medication for children,” Harse said.
Tamiflu is the recommended medication for not only flu-like symptoms, but also for the H1N1 flu virus.
Harse was unable to provide a price for the liquid Tamiflu, but the price of 10 Tamiflu capsules is $109. Harse said most insurance companies do cover the expenses.
Craig Rowland, pharmacist at the Kinney Drugs Pharmacy in Brewerton, is feeling the pressure from the high demand of Tamiflu as well. “We are having supply trouble, but we make the liquid form ahead of time, so there is definitely pressure there,” Rowland said. “It’s a supply issue from the wholesaler and then they put pressure on the manufacturer,” Rowland explained.
Pharmacists at Kinney Drugs Pharmacy make the liquid form of Tamiflu from scratch. “The old-fashioned way by mixing the prescribed capsules with a sweetened liquid,” Rowland said.
Kinney receives a large inventory of the capsules, but it all depends on the severity of each flu season. “For one season, we did not use 25 percent of the Tamiflu we had in stock,” Rowland explained.
The Wal-Mart pharmacy is especially feeling the pressure of the high demand of liquid Tamiflu. Karen Komarnicki, Wal-Mart pharmacist in Oswego, said, “We are feeling a lot of pressure this year, we are unable to make the mixture here at Wal-Mart because we are short in supplies from the manufacturer.”
With Wal-Mart not having the liquid Tamiflu available to customers, Komarnicki and other Wal-Mart pharmacists have to refer Wal-Mart customers to other pharmacies.
“As people are having trouble with getting the flu shots, the same goes for us who are not receiving the proper supplies to make the liquid medicine,” Komarnicki said. “It is happening so much earlier this year also, flu season typically doesn’t start until January.”
Pharmacies such as Wal-Mart may have to wait until December to receive more liquid Tamiflu from the Swiss drugmaker and manufacturer, Roche Holding.
Recent information from a Roche October 2009 media release stated, Roche is increasing its “full-year outlook and Roche now expects at least high single-digit full-year sales growth for (the) pharmaceuticals division.”
The demand for Tamiflu due to the H1N1 flu virus has also caused a 10 percent rise in third quarter-sales. In the first nine months, Roche group sales in the United States are up by $6 billion, about a 6 percent jump.