- Australia has run out of adrenaline medication, the second shortage in months
- There are currently no EpiPen alternatives, leaving concerned parents anxious
- Production company Pfizer said it was ‘working tirelessly’ to boost production
People with severe allergic reactions have faced major shortages of life-saving adrenaline medication for the second time in three months.
Supplies of EpiPen injections have run out across Australia leaving parents and allergy sufferers frustrated, with no other similar treatment currently available.
‘It just makes me so scared because my son is 13, he needs to carry two EpiPens, they expire every year,’ worried mother, Jo Abi, told Nine News.
Supplies of EpiPen injections have run out across Australia leaving parents like Jo Abi (pictured) frustrated because there are no similar treatments currently available
Production company Pfizer said it was ‘working tirelessly’ to increase production, and blamed the shortage on a ‘lack of parts’ and ‘changes in processes’.
More devices were due to become available by February 23, but Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia said the root of the cause needed to be dealt with to stop the issue reoccurring.
Spokeswoman Maria Said explained the ‘roll on’ of problems was a signal there was a larger factor at play.
Production company Pfizer said it was ‘working tirelessly’ to increase production, and blamed the shortage on a ‘lack of parts’ and ‘changes in processes’
‘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 other similar devices, but they have not yet been made available in Australia.
The shortage follows the company’s junior device running out in November, and a major recall in March due to a product flaw.
Spokeswoman Maria Said (pictured) explained the ‘roll on’ of problems was a signal there was a larger factor at play