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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| EpiPen shortage 'worrying' for people with allergies | EpiPen shortage 'worrying' for people with allergies |
| (3 days later) | |
| A shortage of EpiPens is causing worry for people with allergies in the UK. | A shortage of EpiPens is causing worry for people with allergies in the UK. |
| The makers of the adrenaline injection pen, which is used to treat severe and life threatening allergic reactions, say the supply problems are due to manufacturing issues. | The makers of the adrenaline injection pen, which is used to treat severe and life threatening allergic reactions, say the supply problems are due to manufacturing issues. |
| The Department of Health said they were working with the manufacturers to "resolve the supply situation as quickly as possible". | The Department of Health said they were working with the manufacturers to "resolve the supply situation as quickly as possible". |
| They said limited supplies were being closely managed. | They said limited supplies were being closely managed. |
| "Any patient who is unable to obtain supplies should speak to their doctor about using an alternative adrenaline auto-injector device," said a government official. | "Any patient who is unable to obtain supplies should speak to their doctor about using an alternative adrenaline auto-injector device," said a government official. |
| EpiPen is the biggest of the adrenaline auto-injectors on the market and shortages have had a knock-on effect, cutting into the stocks of other AAIs Jext and Emerade. | EpiPen is the biggest of the adrenaline auto-injectors on the market and shortages have had a knock-on effect, cutting into the stocks of other AAIs Jext and Emerade. |
| Lifesavers | Lifesavers |
| Jacqueline Scoins Cass has 10 allergies, including dairy, latex and coconut, for which she needs to carry EpiPens. | Jacqueline Scoins Cass has 10 allergies, including dairy, latex and coconut, for which she needs to carry EpiPens. |
| It is recommended that people carry two pens as the first one may not work on its own. Jacqueline managed to get one EpiPen in April and was told she would receive a second one soon after. | It is recommended that people carry two pens as the first one may not work on its own. Jacqueline managed to get one EpiPen in April and was told she would receive a second one soon after. |
| It arrived on Friday. | It arrived on Friday. |
| She said the six months' wait had been a "worry" but she knew she was better off than other people she talked to on allergy forums. | She said the six months' wait had been a "worry" but she knew she was better off than other people she talked to on allergy forums. |
| "It's affecting people across the country," she said. | "It's affecting people across the country," she said. |
| "People have been traipsing pharmacy to pharmacy to try and find them because they didn't even have the first pen - at least I knew I had one pen that was in date. | "People have been traipsing pharmacy to pharmacy to try and find them because they didn't even have the first pen - at least I knew I had one pen that was in date. |
| "It would be really worrying if you didn't have any at all - out-of-date adrenaline is better than no adrenaline but obviously these pens have a shelf life for a reason. | "It would be really worrying if you didn't have any at all - out-of-date adrenaline is better than no adrenaline but obviously these pens have a shelf life for a reason. |
| "I really feel for the people who haven't got one. | "I really feel for the people who haven't got one. |
| "It's a life-and-death medication." | "It's a life-and-death medication." |
| Advice | Advice |
| Robbie Turner, director of pharmacy at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, advises: | Robbie Turner, director of pharmacy at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, advises: |
| The charity Anaphylaxis Campaign says anyone anxious about their prescription should visit their GP and talk about it directly with them. | The charity Anaphylaxis Campaign says anyone anxious about their prescription should visit their GP and talk about it directly with them. |
| And do not dispose of any "expired" AAI devices before receiving a new one. | And do not dispose of any "expired" AAI devices before receiving a new one. |
| Even if a device is out-of-date, as long as the liquid inside is not cloudy or discoloured it can still be used in an emergency. | Even if a device is out-of-date, as long as the liquid inside is not cloudy or discoloured it can still be used in an emergency. |
| Jacqueline had to wait a month last year for her second pen and hopes the issues will have been sorted out by the time she needs to replace them next time. | Jacqueline had to wait a month last year for her second pen and hopes the issues will have been sorted out by the time she needs to replace them next time. |
| She said: "Pens last a year or 18 months. So, if everyone's struggled to get them and they've all come in at a similar sort of time, they are all going to expire at the same time next year again. So, hopefully, they've future-planned that there's enough medication for then." | She said: "Pens last a year or 18 months. So, if everyone's struggled to get them and they've all come in at a similar sort of time, they are all going to expire at the same time next year again. So, hopefully, they've future-planned that there's enough medication for then." |
| The shortage has affected people in the US, Canada and Australia as well as the UK. | The shortage has affected people in the US, Canada and Australia as well as the UK. |
| Mylan, who market Epipen, said Pfizer was "working hard" to increase production and supply would stabilise towards the end of the year. | Mylan, who market Epipen, said Pfizer was "working hard" to increase production and supply would stabilise towards the end of the year. |