PHARMACISTS are being urged to manage their supplies of EpiPen Jr autoinjectors, with sponsor, Mylan, reporting shortages are likely to continue until at least 31 Jan.
Mylan informed the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) about the supply issues last week, following manufacturing delays being experienced by Pfizer subsidiary, Meridian Medical Technologies.
The TGA has described the patient impact of the shortages as "critical".
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has noted that patients requiring an EpiPen Jr should contact their local pharmacy, while pharmacists have been told "only one EpiPen Jr should be dispensed to each patient".
"Whilst the use of an expired EpiPen Jr adrenaline autoinjector is not ideal, research suggests that recently expired devices retain potency," the ASCIA said.
"Therefore, if no other EpiPen Jr autoinjector is available, use of a recently expired EpiPen Jr autoinjector to treat anaphylaxis is advised.
"To ensure those at risk of anaphylaxis have access to the treatment they may need, supply should be restricted to patients with an EpiPen Jr prescription for a new diagnosis, or because their EpiPen Jr has expired or has recently been used.
"We also request that schools and early childhood education/care (ECEC) centres take into account the current supply issues, by not requesting additional EpiPen Jr devices to be brought to the school or ECEC centre for each child at risk of anaphylaxis, and to limit the replacement of general use devices at this time."
As previously reported medicines shortages reporting increased by 400% in the 2018/19 year (PD 06 Nov), with 1,455 shortage notifications made in the year to 30 Jun.
Currently more than 500 products are listed on the TGA's Medicine Shortages Information Initiative website, with 65 rated as "critical".
The TGA is anticipating supply shortages of a further seven products with a critical patient impact in the coming weeks.
Pharmacy Guild of Australian Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, told Pharmacy Daily that medicines shortages have plagued the sector in recent years.
"Supply issues and medicine shortages have been an ongoing problem and frustration for many years, and the Guild welcomed working with the Government in 2017 and 2018, which resulted in bringing in stronger reporting requirements for manufacturers at the beginning of this year," he said.
"However, reporting alone does not resolve the problem and we believe there is still more that must be done.
"We'd like to see the Government work again with key stakeholders, including pharmacists, prescribers and consumers, to consider what further needs to be done to improve the situation."
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