AG James warns of potential price gouging amid shortage of fever reducing medications

Several pharmacies across Long Island tell News 12 that they are having trouble keeping medicine on the shelves as cases of COVID-19, the flu and RSV are on the rise.

News 12 Staff

Dec 26, 2022, 10:40 PM

Updated 714 days ago

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New York Attorney General Letitia James is warning consumers about potential price gouging of fever reducing medications for children as demand remains high across the country.
James released a statement saying in part, "The last thing any family needs when a child spikes a fever or is in pain is to be price gouged on the medication they need. I am putting profiteers seeking to take advantage of this shortage on notice."
Several pharmacies across Long Island tell News 12 that they are having trouble keeping medicine on the shelves as cases of COVID-19, the flu and RSV are on the rise.
Nina Joshi, a pharmacist at Maple Pharmacy, says she has been calling their supplier several times a day to try and get Tylenol, Motrin and Ibuprofen.
She has now had to find different products that can help children.
"We recently just ordered a combination product, Mucinex, which has Tylenol in it so they can use that," Joshi said. "There's just a lot of issues with the supply right now."
Joshi says those who don't need fever reducing medication should leave it on the shelves.
Dr. Eugene Vortsman, an emergency medicine physician at LIJ Cohens Medical, says that if a child has a fever and is still being playful and drinking then parents just need to "let the body do what it needs to do."
Vortsman also said that mask wearing for sick people should become more normal to protect others. He said anyone who doesn't feel well should stay away from others and keep a close eye on the at-risk population and the very young.
"If your child is less than eight weeks and they have a fever, especially a fever with no obvious signs like a cough or runny nose, you need to go to the local emergency department," Vortsman said.
Parents are hopeful that businesses don't price gouge and people heed the pharmacists' words.
"You have to buy it and there is nothing we can do about it because it is not like buying chocolate or something that is really serious," says Lori Davis, of Bethpage.
Doctors tell News 12 that if parents can't get fever reducing medications, then soup, putting a child in a warm bath, keeping them hydrated, not overlaying them with blankets and a lot of love will help in getting temperatures down.