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Drug shortage impacting COVID-19 patients

Many of the drugs are necessary for patients using ventilators.

DES MOINES, Iowa — According to the Iowa Pharmacy Assocaition, ever since the earliest Covid-19 cases pharmacists have been warning of a shortage of drugs needed to safely have patients on ventilators.

"It was one of the concerns for pharmacists from the very beginning," explains ceo of IPA, Kate Gainer.

"Without the necessary drugs patients are not able to be put on a ventilator," says Gainer. "For patients with Covid-19 many of them do progress to requiring being on a ventilator, and as such the drugs needed for ventilation are a must."

Gainers says with the increased use of these medications during the Covid-19 crisis, demand is quickly exceeding supply.

"I talked to the pharmacy staff, both, at Mercy and UnityPoint," she says. "They said they are managing a lot of time managing drug shortages."

Pharmacists suggest only getting one month supply of your prescriptions, instead of a 90 day supply if you can.

Local 5 reached out to MercyOne in Des Moines on the issue. Here is their statement:

"In conjunction with Polk County Health Department Emergency Management, Des Moines – area medical centers are actively monitoring supplies of several medications used to manage bronchospasms and maintain a patient on a ventilator. During the COVID-19 pandemic we have been able to maintain access to these medications through good communication with each other and the dedicated efforts of our colleagues in pharmacy and our supply chain. Together, we are working to ensure these medications are available wherever a patient seeks care. The public also has the opportunity to help. If consumers use inhaled medications like an Albuterol inhaler for asthma or COPD, we suggest they bring such medications with them if presenting to the Emergency Department or if they require emergency department services transport. Doing this will help extend our Albuterol supplies for someone who may need this critical medication."

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