EpiPen shortage

[spacecanada]

https://www.facebook.com/EpiPenCanada/posts/1439986346113779

Pfizer Canada Statement: EpiPen® Auto-Injector (0.3 mg) Supply Interruption

As a result of a supply interruption, Pfizer is experiencing a supply shortage of EpiPen auto-injectors in the 0.3 mg format in January 2018. EpiPen is a medically necessary product with currently no alternatives on the market in Canada. At this time, there is limited supply of auto-injectors at wholesalers, distributors and at pharmacies. While we are working closely with our distributors to avoid long-term supply shortage at the store level, we expect a period of between two and four weeks of no inventory. Additional limited inventory will be supplied at the beginning of February 2018 which will be placed under allocation and we will continue to manage supply carefully.

Pfizer has advised and is working with Health Canada on this situation and we are exploring remediation plans to address this situation.
We understand and regret the challenges this shortage poses to patients. Ensuring continuity of the supply of our medicines is paramount, and this temporary supply interruption does not indicate an impact on the quality, safety or efficacy of EpiPen auto-injectors currently available on the Canadian market. Pfizer fully realizes the importance of this medicine to our customers and patients, and has taken action to minimize the duration of the supply interruption, including efforts to expedite delivery of available supply.

I have two EpiPens expiring at the end of this month, and two more expiring in March.  (I have two more that are valid for longer.)  I wish we had an alternative, if only for people who may have a reaction this month, use their last one, and end up with NONE.  That's why we keep backups for our backups. 

[spacecanada]

Updates: https://www.allergicliving.com/2018/01/15/short-term-supply-shortage-of-epipen-in-canada-what-you-need-to-know/

The article above also mentions another aotuinjector coming to Anasazi in 2018 from Taro Pharmaceuticals.