Jacqui Rosshandler says her 6-year-old and 3-year-old girls keep getting sick this winter.

“I think we are getting a lot of colds and flus this year,” Rosshandler said. “I think it is just where we are at. We had years of masks and years of not having colds and flus, and this year they are all coming up. It’s part of life, it’s not ideal."

The city’s health department says COVID-19, the flu and RSV, a respiratory illness that children and infants get, are on the rise. That means more people are buying medicines like Tylenol and Robitussin across the city.

What You Need To Know

  • The city’s health department says COVID-19, the flu and RSV, a respiratory illness that children and infants get, are on the rise

  • Pharmacies are facing challenges keeping cold and flu medications in stock

  • Dr. Nicolas Hernandez, from Northwell Health, says our bodies are readjusting to seasonal illnesses after dealing with COVID-19 prevention methods

  • The city's health department advises people to get tested before and after holiday gatherings

“One of the problem we are having is the availability of simple things to treat the symptoms: Tylenol, which we treat for the headache, the fever and the body aches. And Robitussin, any of the generics — acetaminophen, guaifenesin,” said Gary Alony, a pharmacist and owner of Thompson Chemists, a SoHo pharmacy. “We try to order all these things, but it is frustrating becausewe see all zeros.”

His shelves are well stocked, but it takes extra effort.

Alony said he has had to reach out to multiple wholesalers and retailers to get the medications that are in high demand at his pharmacy.

For parents looking to protecting their kids, Alony recommends keeping children hydrated at this time of year.

“From all three of these diseases, you have the potential of being dehydrated,” Alony said.

Dr. Nicolas Hernandez, at Northwell Health, says this winter our bodies are learning to readjust to seasonal illness due to the pandemic shutdowns and not coming in contact with as many people.

“Our immune systems are relearning how to fight viruses because we were isolated for so many years,” said Dr. Nicolas Hernandez, of Northwell Health

Hernandez urges parents to seek medical care before resorting to medicating your kids right away.

“We are all tirelessly seeing case after case and looking at all different things and we can really make a true assessment as to what is really sick and what really warrants a higher level of care,” he said.

During the holiday season, the health department recommends people get tested before and after gatherings and wearing masks when in crowded settings.