EpiPen Shortage Puts Thousands of Australian Adults and Children at Risk

Thousands of Australians relying on life-saving EpiPens are at risk as supplies RUN OUT around the country for the second time in three months!

Those with severe allergic reactions are facing a major EpiPen shortage of the life-saving adrenaline medication after supplies of the EpiPen injections run out across Australia leaving parents and allergy sufferers frustrated.

With no similar treatment currently available, Pfizer (the EpiPen manufacturer) said they were ‘working tirelessly’ to increase production, blaming the lack of supply due to ‘changes in processes’ and ‘a lack of parts’.

The shortage follows one of the company’s devices running out in November and a major epipen recall in March 2017.

Worried mum Jo Abi told Nine News:

‘It just makes me so scared because my son is 13, he needs to carry two EpiPens, they expire every year,’

It’s anticipated that more devices will be available by 23rd February, however, spokesperson Maria Said from Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia says the root of the cause needs to be properly dealt with to prevent a shortage happening again, given the ‘roll on’ issues flagged there was a larger factor at play.

‘First and foremost I think we need to get to the bottom root cause of why we’ve got this shortage and why these shortages keep happening,’ Ms Said said. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved two similar devices, however they’re yet to be made available in Australia.

Further, advice has been given to those who have EpiPens who are or about to expire, to hang onto them and that they can be used once expired, however the effectiveness of the adrenaline could be less effective given its expiration, however would be better to have on hand than nothing at all.