An especially active year for pediatric colds, flus, and other illnesses has increased demand for pediatric fever reducers (Acetaminophen/Tylenol; Motrin/Advil). Parents may have a hard time finding these medications. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a letter for parents during this time. See the content of the letter below.

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

We are writing with recommendations regarding a current shortage of infant and children’s pain and fever-reducing medications in stores and pharmacies nationally and in Massachusetts. This shortage includes common liquid preparations of acetaminophen and ibuprofen and other cold and flu medications that can reduce fever.

During this time when we are seeing increased cases of flu and other respiratory viruses, you may be unable to find these medications on pharmacy shelves. While this can be distressing, it’s important to remember that fever-reducing medicines do not cure or even shorten the duration of illness. While a fever can be uncomfortable, fever is a sign that your child’s body is fighting infection. Low to moderate fevers do not require fever-reducing medications and children are able to tolerate such low fevers well.

There are several steps you can take to help comfort your child if they develop a fever and you are unable to find fever-reducing medications including:

• Encourage your child to drink lots of fluids including water and electrolyte-containing fluids for children. Staying well hydrated is important to help your child feel better and fight the infection.
• Keep their room comfortably cool.
• Dress them in light clothing.

It’s important to remember that fever in children should never be treated with aspirin or rubbing alcohol as both can cause serious illness.

During this current shortage of fever-reducing medications, it is recommended that you purchase only the quantity that you need for your child, to avoid worsening shortages and ensure available supply for others.  Please note: If you don’t see fever-reducing products on the store shelf, ask the pharmacy staff as they may be storing their limited supply behind the counter.

If you have questions about the medications you have at home, or have purchased, please check with your health care provider or pharmacist. Additional guidance can be found here: https://mcaap.org/2018/wp-content/uploads/Parent-Tips-during-Acetaminophen-and-Ibuprofen-Shortage-1.pdf

We are coming into winter, which means it is the season you are more likely to suffer from common respiratory illness.  Colds and flu can wreak havoc on anyone during this time, but the addition of COVID makes the season even more challenging.

You can protect yourself against flu and COVID at Codman’s Respiratory Season Vaccine Clinics. Even if you have had a COVID vaccine and two boosters, the new bivalent booster will help you fight the omicron strains of COVID. Clinics are Dec. 22 and Dec. 29 from 9 am to 4:30 pm.

At our Respiratory Season Vaccine Clinics, not only can you protect yourself with these vaccines, you can also:

• Enter to win prizes
• Receive a gift card (only available for COVID vaccines)

Cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have spiked early in children this year, and children’s hospitals have been filling with patients ill with the virus. While there is no vaccine for RSV, protecting children against flu and COVID can help prevent severe illness and keep kids out of the already-burdened hospitals.

Adults over 65 are more at risk for complications from flu and COVID, and vaccines are their best defense against severe illness. We encourage appointments, which you can make by calling 617-822-8271 or filling out an appointment request form (orange button on the right of this). We accept walk-in patients if space permits.

For the 9^th consecutive year, the Commonwealth Institute and the Boston Globe have named Codman Square Health Center to the list of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts.

The Commonwealth Institute is a nonprofit that supports women-led businesses, and it considers revenue, operating budgets, number of full-time employees, diversity, innovative projects, and more when it weighs candidates and organizations for the Top 100 list.

In a recent interview with Cotterell, she commented on how she inspires other women to leadership. “The inspiration to lead is a little different than the inspiration to care for patients, and it’s important that women in health care see that those in leadership roles can make a real difference in patient care,  staff satisfaction, and in their community.”