'100 Tylenols per pharmacy' provided to relieve shortage

To be supplied to individual pharmacies in the capital area from the 15th and from the 16th in other regions

The second supply to be released this Thursday and Friday… will be delivered to all 40 distributors at once

Tylenols awaiting shipment at a pharmaceutical distribution company

The shortage of Tylenol in pharmacies will be somewhat relieved with one hundred Tylenol 500mg being supplied to each pharmacy starting today.

 

This measure to relieve the Tylenol shortage was made under the government’s request to Johnson & Johnson to release the 5 million the company stockpiled for next year, and Johnson & Johnson shipped the products to the wholesalers in charge of distributions yesterday, on the 14th.

 

The first shipment contains 2.4 million Tylenols.

 

The Korean Pharmaceuticals Distribution Association divided the pharmacies by region to allow ‘fair distribution to all pharmacies’ and selected 40 wholesale companies to cover the regions.

 

The 40 wholesalers in charge of distribution started taking preorders last week.

 

An official from one wholesale company said, “We started taking orders from last week, and as of the 14th, some wholesalers have already started receiving their supply.

 

So companies will be able to distribute the supply from today (15th).” In the second supply, 2.6 million more Tylenols will be released.

 

Therefore, the 23,000 pharmacies that have ordered its 100 Tylenols from the first supply will be able to order additional Tylenols on an as-needed basis.

 

An official from the pharmaceuticals distribution industry said, “The equal supply of Tylenol to pharmacies in all regions rather than in some pharmacies will improve patient access to the drug.” On this, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, “With support from relevant organizations, the ministry will work to enable smooth supply of acetaminophen to the people in need at the right time in line with the government's vaccination plan.

 

Also, we will share the supply and demand status with relevant institutions through regular monitoring and immediately support the administrative matters necessary to suppliers to increase production of acetaminophen products.” Earlier, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Korean Pharmacists’ association, Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, Korea Pharmaceuticals Distribution Association, and Tylenol’s manufacturer Johnson & Johnson had met to discuss measures to stabilize the supply of acetaminophen that has faced shortage following COVID-19 vaccinations.

 

The organizations decided to designate 40 pharmaceutical distributors by region to ensure a stable supply of Tylenol in all regions.