December 13, 2023 – An overwhelming 99.5% of California pharmacies have stopped providing medicinal flavorings for children following Gov. Newsom’s controversial decision to veto a bill that would have allowed community pharmacies to continue to flavor medicine. FlavorRx has released new graphics depicting the dramatic impact this decision is having on families across the state.
Prior to this measure, over 3,100 pharmacies conveniently offered flavorings to improve the palatability of children’s medications. The San Francisco Bay Area alone has gone from 818 pharmacies that offer the service to just 3 virtually overnight. Effective from November 1, 2023, this service was abruptly reduced to only 50 accessible locations throughout California. The graphic offers an accurate, and stunning, visual of the reduction – and the daunting distances parents now must traverse to access these pharmacies.
Once easily reachable within a 5-10 minute drive, families are now forced to travel extensive hours to obtain these flavorings essential for children’s medication compliance and health. The consequences of this decision reverberate beyond mere inconvenience, affecting the wellbeing of families statewide.
These graphics offer a better understanding of the impact one policy decision can have on countless lives.
Medication Flavoring Availability in San Francisco, Before and After Nov. 1, 2023
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