COVID-19 crisis results in ‘unprecedented sales’ of multivitamins

The virus is threatening the country’s health and has brought the economy to a standstill. As with most tragedies, though there have been some industries that have benefitted.

In this case, it has been pharmaceutical sales. South Africa’s citizens were buying supplements at an unprecedented rate during March, according to Activo Health.

Activo Health, which is a part of the Afrocentric Group, saw a 14.92% increase in its share price this past Friday off the back Activo Health’s strong multivitamin sales as well as the expected demand for chronic medication from Pharmacy Direct.

Pharmacy Direct is a courier pharmacy that delivers chronic medicine prescriptions directly to patients.

Despite the fact that there is no evidence that supplements can actually protect us from the virus, South Africans are spending more money than ever on vitamins to try and boost their immune systems.

While many people swear by multivitamins and other similar supplements, they are generally considered unnecessary for people who are already eating a balanced diet and who have not been diagnosed as having a deficiency in any vitamins or minerals.

Despite this, multivitamin sales will likely continue to rise during the nationwide lockdown. Pharmacies are designated as essential services, and as the international death toll increases, South African’s will very probably keep doing anything they can to try and lessen their chance of contracting the virus.

Taking a multivitamin is certainly not going to hurt you and if you feel as if you want to be 100% sure you’re getting enough vitamins, feel free to pick one up. Just don’t do it at the expense of a healthy diet.

If you are otherwise healthy and have to choose between a multivitamin and eating the recommended one-and-a-half to two cups of fruit a day and two to two-and-a-half cups of vegetables a day, choose the fruit and vegetables.

Just remember, if you want to avoid COVID-19, your best defence is always going to be stopping the virus from getting into your body. Follow these guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO):

• Wash your hands regularly
• Cough into your bent elbow
• Don’t touch your face
• Maintain a distance of at least a metre from other people
• If you’re not feeling well, self-isolate and follow your doctor’s advice.