Two children have been hospitalized in Tennessee due to Democrat President Joe Biden’s nationwide baby formula shortage.
The children both had “specific dietary requirements” and were hospitalized in mid-May at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
Mark Corkins, division chief of pediatric gastroenterology at Le Bonheur and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, revealed that the children are now being fed via IV fluids.
“These are young children who have health conditions and special medical needs that have specific dietary requirements,” Corkins said.
“Their bodies did not adapt well to the new formula type and they required treatment via IV fluids and supplemental nutrition.”
Corkins added that pediatric experts at the hospital were “making multiple substitutions throughout a child’s care to ensure that their nutritional needs are met.”
“This can be a complicated and cumbersome process and is extremely difficult for parents to navigate on their own,” he said before adding the hospital was “making multiple substitutions throughout a child’s care to ensure that their nutritional needs are met.”
Two children with "specific dietary requirements" hospitalized due to baby formula shortage https://t.co/LGaZUzH8ii
— 8News WRIC Richmond (@8NEWS) May 18, 2022
Sen. Marsha Blackburn said:
“Babies in Tennessee are being hospitalized because they cannot get the proper formula they need.
“This is a crisis, @JoeBiden. Families need help now.”
Babies in Tennessee are being hospitalized because they cannot get the proper formula they need.
This is a crisis, @JoeBiden. Families need help now. https://t.co/O2s4FeCEQt
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) May 18, 2022
From Fox8:
The hospitalizations come as U.S. parents have, for weeks, struggled to find baby formula products for their children.
The shortage has been worsened by supply chain issues coupled with a massive recall from Abbott Nutrition, one of the top formula manufacturers.
Earlier this week, Abbott announced that it had reached a deal with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reopen the company’s Michigan factory, which was shuttered in the wake of the recall.
But even after that deal is approved, it will still take approximately six to eight weeks for the company to resume production fully and get baby formula back on the shelves.
