Drug shortages must be prevented—tell Congress to act now! SIGN NOW

Dear Friend,

Earlier this winter, I had a frightening experience: my baby had both the flu and an ear infection. Normally, I would get the antibiotics he needed to remedy the situation. Instead, the medications his pediatrician prescribed were out of stock at our local pharmacy. I called multiple pharmacies nearby only to hear the dreaded news that they too were facing a shortage and had nothing in stock. My baby was running a high fever and crying in pain. Fortunately, we were able to go to the next town over, only to get the last bottle the pharmacy had. This plight of facing medication shortages wasn’t limited to my situation but something moms have been facing nationwide. [1] This is why we need Congress to support the Drug Shortage Prevention Act.

Quick signature: We need Congress to better anticipate drug shortages in the United States! When you click, you’ll automatically sign on if we already have your information. 

What’s happening? The recent surge in pediatric illnesses like RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 has created an alarming shortage of drugs to treat respiratory illness. [2] The nationwide shortage of cold, flu, and fever medicines for children has led some drug store chains to limit purchases of certain drugs, including Children’s Tylenol and Motrin, medications that families direly need when their kids are sick. Presently, manufacturers have the option to inform the FDA about a surge in demand for their products, but it is not required. [3] Unfortunately, many families continue to face shortages in medications they critically need for their children. The Drug Shortage Prevention Act would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to notify the FDA following sustained increase in product demand for six consecutive weeks and to help the FDA better predict and respond to these kinds of crises.

Sign on! Life-saving and life-sustaining medications should be readily available to children and their families. Click here to tell Congress to act now to prevent drug shortages!

By reducing drug shortages and enhancing the FDA's ability to anticipate and address them by making it mandatory for companies to give notification, The Drug Shortage Prevention Act instructs the FDA to work with manufacturers as needed to enhance demand forecasting. We must urge lawmakers to ensure no patients are left behind in a drug shortage and are able to access the medications they need!

*Sign on now! Tell Congress to prevent drug shortages! When you click, you’ll automatically sign on to our petition that says:

Dear member of Congress,

Everyone should have access to the medicine they need when they get sick, but recent drug shortages have created gaps for families during times of illness. We urge you to address the shortages of crucial medications that families need. 

The recent surge in pediatric respiratory illnesses like RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 has created an alarming shortage of drugs to treat respiratory illness. The Drug Shortage Prevention Act would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to notify the FDA following sustained increase in product demand for six consecutive weeks, to help the FDA better predict and respond to these kinds of crises.

To truly ensure our children and families are able to get the medicine they need when they get sick, we need your support. We urge you to support The Drug Shortage Prevention Act!

Don’t forget to sign on! Lives are at stake. We cannot continue to have drug shortages for our children and families. We need Congress to take action!

The more people who speak out, the bigger our impact. Please take a moment to forward our action link to your friends and family and share our action link on social media: https://action.momsrising.org/sign/rxaction-drugshortage/

Together we are a powerful voice for the health of families.

- Tasmiha, Felicia, Donna, and the whole MomsRising.org & MamásConPoder Team

References:

[1] NBC News, Children’s medication shortages strain parents and pharmacies, https://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/childrens-medication-shortages-strain-parents-pharmacies-alternatives-rcna62663
[2] CNBC, FDA commissioner urges parents not to stockpile children’s flu medications amid shortages, https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/21/fda-commissioner-urges-parents-not-to-stockpile-childrens-flu-meds-.html
[3] FDA, Frequently Asked Questions about Drug Shortages, https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-shortages/frequently-asked-questions-about-drug-shortages

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