Posted 9:25 pm Friday, January 04, 2013
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Doctor: Tamiflu in short supply with flu season ahead
BY JENNIFER HEATHCOCK
KYTX CBS19
KYTX CBS19
A popular drug used to treat the flu is in high demand but short supply at a time many East Texans are having flu symptoms.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this could be the biggest flu season in years, especially in Texas.
Brent Zimmehanzel has had flu-like symptoms.
“(I’ve had) bone chilling aches, had chills really bad … had a fever,” Zimmerhanzel said.
He decided to see a doctor.
“I had to call around everywhere and all the clinics were completely full, (some I had a) three-hour wait,” Zimmerhanzel said.
Dr. Ryan Mullins with Trinity Clinic at Broadway Commons said the number of patients at the clinic is up and nearly half of the patients are reporting flu-like symptoms.
Mullins said Tamiflu, one medicine doctors prescribe to treat flu symptoms, is in short supply.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this could be the biggest flu season in years, especially in Texas.
Brent Zimmehanzel has had flu-like symptoms.
“(I’ve had) bone chilling aches, had chills really bad … had a fever,” Zimmerhanzel said.
He decided to see a doctor.
“I had to call around everywhere and all the clinics were completely full, (some I had a) three-hour wait,” Zimmerhanzel said.
Dr. Ryan Mullins with Trinity Clinic at Broadway Commons said the number of patients at the clinic is up and nearly half of the patients are reporting flu-like symptoms.
Mullins said Tamiflu, one medicine doctors prescribe to treat flu symptoms, is in short supply.
“Always in really busy years of flu season we seem to run short on that (Tamiflu),” Mullins said.
He said the shortage of Tamiflu creates issues for patients and doctors who have to figure which pharmacies have it in stock.
Some pharmacies in Tyler are reporting their supplies are running low and that they are out of the pediatric version.
Tamiflu is approved for children ages 1 and older and it treats types A and B of the flu, which is why it’s the preferred choice.
Zimmerhanzel said he made a mistake this year in not getting a flu shot. “There’s no chance I’m not going to get the flu shot next year,” he said.
He said the shortage of Tamiflu creates issues for patients and doctors who have to figure which pharmacies have it in stock.
Some pharmacies in Tyler are reporting their supplies are running low and that they are out of the pediatric version.
Tamiflu is approved for children ages 1 and older and it treats types A and B of the flu, which is why it’s the preferred choice.
Zimmerhanzel said he made a mistake this year in not getting a flu shot. “There’s no chance I’m not going to get the flu shot next year,” he said.
