Finnish pharmacies ran out of iodine tablets in a few hours, after the government asked the population to buy them on Tuesday morning to prevent the risk of nuclear radiation.
The Finnish Pharmacists Association confirmed today in a statement that potassium iodine tablets are “temporarily out of stock” in all pharmacies in the country, but will be available “soon”.
The association added that, despite the authorities’ suggestion, “there is no urgent need” to buy iodine tablets.
The rate of acquisition of this product was so high that it temporarily collapsed the online sales of the largest pharmacy chain in the country, Yliopiston Apteekki.
This morning, the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health had suggested to the population under 40 to buy potassium iodine tablets as a measure to prevent the risk of nuclear radiation.
The Ministry explained today in a statement that there are no longer iodine tablets for children under three years of age for sale in Finland, so health centers must import them and distribute them to parents and pregnant women.
Potassium iodide prevents the uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid, which can cause cancer or damage to the gland when the body is exposed to nuclear radiation.
The World Health Organization recommends the use of these pills in case of nuclear exposure to people up to 40 years of age and to pregnant women, in this case to protect the fetus.
The Finnish authorities recalled that the most effective way to reduce exposure is to seek shelter indoors, while consuming iodine is a “complementary protective measure”.
He also urged citizens not to take the pills on their own initiative and wait for the civil protection authorities to issue an emergency notice if necessary.
Source: TSF
