A surge in demand for drugs to relieve the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines has led to a growth in sales of over-the-counter medication to relieve headaches and fever, prompting pharmaceutical companies to increase production.
According to market research firm Intage Inc., sales of over-the-counter analgesic antipyretic drugs rose 66% year-on-year to 1.884 billion yen in the first week of August. The increase was more than 80% year on year in the four prefectures in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Sales began to rise around May when vaccinations for the elderly began at full scale.
There have been shortages of the analgesic antipyretic medication acetaminophen at pharmacies following the spread of information mainly online that it can relieve the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and can be used by pregnant women and children.
When the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said in June that other kinds of over-the-counter analgesic antipyretic medication are effective against vaccine side effects, sales grew at a faster rate.
"Side effect relief is not the only reason people are buying the medication, some people might be stocking up on it as the infection situation is getting worse and the medical system is under increasing pressure," an Intage official said.
Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare Co. posted information online about the kind of medication to take to relieve vaccine side effects in late June. Since then, the company's website has been viewed about 10,000 times a day, about 50 times more than usual.
A Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. spokesperson said: "Preparations are underway to increase production. The situation will be monitored over the medium to long term."
The health ministry has advised people who are pregnant or receiving medical treatment as well as those who have prolonged fevers after vaccination, to consult their doctors or pharmacists before taking medication to relieve vaccine side effects.
The ministry said it does not recommend taking analgesic antipyretic drugs before side effects occur, and some pharmaceutical companies have issued similar warnings.
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