From Dean Crowe Vincristine is the most commonly used childhood cancer chemotherapy drug, and it works by stopping the cancer cells from separating into two new cells. Its job is to stop the cancer from growing. And now, because of the shortage, kids are being denied vincristine. The Vincristine Shortage: What You Need to Know On Monday, October 14, 2019 the New York Times reported that there was a shortage of vincristine. https://nyti.ms/2MBtKCM The article stated that the shortage was due to a manufacturing issue that the sole supplier of vincristine in the United States, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, was experiencing.  The FDA and Pfizer both confirmed the manufacturing issue. That same day, Rally heard from parents that their children were denied vincristine.  One child was told that, even after having his port accessed so vincristine could be administered, he would not be getting the...

Dear Pediatric Oncologists, As I’m sure you’re aware, the vincristine shortage is very real. But what I want you to know is that I am sorry. I know this is hard—hard on the families who can’t get vincristine for their kids, but also hard on you as these precious children’s doctors. My heart breaks for the families and for you. It cannot be easy to look a parent and a child in eye and tell them that they will not be able to get vincristine, the very medicine you told them they needed to save their life. I am sorry. We have failed our children who are fighting cancer, and we have failed you as their doctors. I am still trying to figure out how this has happened in America. The sacrifices you made to become a pediatric oncologist are nothing short of heroic. My son is a first-year neurology resident in Boston, so I’ve seen firsthand (and stand amazed) of what every doctor goes through not...