EpiPen is an adrenaline auto-injector device used in emergencies to treat very serious allergic reactions to insect stings/bites, foods, drugs or other substances.
The shortage may mean some of your students start using a different adrenaline auto-injector that you are less familiar with and/or carrying fewer devices than they normally do. You may have already started to notice this.
We attach some advice from the Department for Health and Social Care, which has been drawn up by NHS allergy experts. Please read this and urgently circulate.
Please note that this guidance is now subject to the following updates:
- During this period of reduced supply, 300mcg of adrenaline can be prescribed to children weighing 25kg or above, even where the pen might state 30kg or above; and
- In the event of anaphylaxis during this shortage period, if a child has no in-date pen, an out-of-date pen can be used. Using an out-of-date pen might give a lower dose of adrenaline but it is better to use an out-of-date pen than wait for an ambulance to arrive.
You should also note the guidance in letter (attached) from NHS allergy experts, which is being issued by GPs to those affected and includes the updated advice.
We recommend you also pass on this letter (in confidence) to parents/guardians of young people who carry an EpiPen Junior or alternative adrenaline auto-injector.
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