As parents continue to struggle to find pain and fever medications for their children amid a rise in respiratory illnesses, the Canadian Ministry of Health announced on Monday that it has obtained foreign supplies of acetaminophen for children.

This incoming supply will be available for retail purchase, or parents can access it at community pharmacies "in the coming weeks."

The foreign supply of acetaminophen, along with the recent approval by the Canadian Ministry of Health to import ibuprofen and acetaminophen for infants and children to supply hospitals in Canada. The agency says that ibuprofen has been imported, and distribution is underway.

The Canadian Ministry of Health also said that all imports of licensed foreign products are "subject to rigorous review" to ensure the product meets Canadian safety and efficacy standards.

Meanwhile, the federal health agency is asking parents not to stockpile children's pain relievers—if they manage to find any supplies on store shelves—to allow others to access these medications as the shortage continues. If caregivers cannot find the required medication, the Canadian Ministry of Health encourages speaking to pharmacists about available alternatives.

The amount of foreign-imported drugs will remain unclear, except that the Canadian Ministry of Health states that "the quantity to be imported will increase the supplies available to consumers and help address the immediate situation."

The Canadian Ministry of Health said in the statement: "We share the concerns of parents and caregivers about their inability to find acetaminophen and ibuprofen for infants and children; these products are essential for families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to reduce fever and pain. We are committed to exploring every possible option to end this shortage."

In August, the Canadian Ministry of Health confirmed a shortage of pain relief medications for children nationwide. The shortage of drugs, including liquid Tylenol tablets for children and chewable acetaminophen tablets, is attributed to a combination of supply chain issues, as well as increased consumer demand due to what drug manufacturers described as an "unprecedented" Canadian cold and flu season.

In the same context, the federal government has been under increasing pressure from provinces as well as federal opposition parties to do more to sort out the nationwide shortage. For example, over the past several weeks, the Conservatives have been pressing the federal government to allow the import and sale of foreign-labeled versions of the same formulations of over-the-counter children's pain relievers.

Additionally, the Canadian Ministry of Health said that regarding incoming supplies, "All information related to alerts, warnings, dosing instructions, ingredients, and other important details will be provided in both English and French to ensure that parents and caregivers clearly understand the medications they use and how to administer them to their children."

Last week, Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos spoke with his counterparts in the provinces about the pressure that bare shelves are putting on families and children's hospitals.

Duclos also pledged to continue working with manufacturers—including Advil Haleon, Tylenol maker Johnson & Johnson—and distributors, as well as stakeholders in the health sector to come up with solutions to the shortage. Meanwhile, some parents have reported making great efforts to secure whatever they can.