The shortage of EpiPen last two to four weeks

AFP

QMI agency

Thursday, January 18, 2018 17:37

UPDATE
Thursday, January 18, 2018 17:41

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The shortage of auto-injectors EpiPen in Canada will last from two to four weeks, said Thursday the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, in an attempt to reassure the population regarding the stock shortage.

“Although we work in close collaboration with the distributors to avoid a long-term shortage pharmacy, we anticipate a period of two to four weeks during which no product will be available,” warned the manufacturer in a press release.

Additional quantities of the treatment will be put into circulation at the beginning of the month of February, but the problem of supply of Pfizer will not be resolved by march.

“We understand the problems caused by this shortage to patients and we are sorry”, apologized the company, specifying deploy “all possible efforts to accelerate the delivery of the stocks still available”.

The EpiPen is used to administer an emergency dose of epinephrine to patients who are at risk of having an allergic reaction potentially life-threatening. There is no alternative to the product on the canadian market.

The shortage affects the auto-injector EpiPen 0.3 mg. The product EpiPen Jr 0.15 mg is still available.

Health Canada has recalled Thursday, as the auto-injector is good up to the last day of its month of expiration. Thus, if a product expires in January, it can be used until 31.

In a case where a person has only one injector has expired, Health Canada recommends “to use the auto-injector expired and immediately call 9-1-1.” “As it is indicated on the product label, patients should go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible after the administration of the product”, explained the federal agency in a press release.