Unless an earth-shattering medical discovery is made in the next couple of months, this winter will be like most others, with millions of Canadians flocking to the pharmacy at the first sign of the sniffles.
Pharmacists have a big part to play in helping consumers prepare for the season.
Part of that preparation includes teaching people that there's no point in heading to their doctors' office for an unnecessary prescription. It reinforces the fact that you shouldn't take antibiotics for a cold. Use bag stuffers with tips from the pharmacist or manufacturers on how to prepare for cold season, says Paul Gauvreau, retail consultant and founder of Retail Resources Operations in Pickering, Ontario. Hold a series of clinics on preparing for winter, he suggests. Bring people in and educate them on how to prevent a cough and cold.