Canadian pharmacies are running short of EpiPen injectors that are relied on by people with life-threatening allergies.
Health Canada in Ottawa issued a warning late Monday saying that pharmacies across Canada are in "very limited supply" of EpiPens and that Canadian pharmacies are to run out of adult doses in the coming days. Pfizer Canada has been reporting shortages for months due to manufacturing delays, and today told Health Canada it won't have new stock of the 0.3 mg adult dose of epinephrine until the end of August.
Pfizer said inventory management can be challenging in part because of the EpiPen's short shelf life, and it's not unusual for stock to be on backorder with the manufacturer. Health Canada said that while some pharmacies might have some inventory on hand, it will likely be gone soon.
"We are exploring every option available to the Department with the goal of resolving the situation as soon as possible," said Health Canada in a news release.
Pfizer Canada said it is currently able to provide the 0.15 mg EpiPen Jr, but supply is limited and the epinephrine injector for children is being carefully managed across the country. EpiPen and EpiPen Jr are used to deliver an emergency shot of epinephrine to patients who are at risk or have a history of the life-threatening allergic reaction anaphylaxis.
There are no alternative auto-injectors available in Canada. EpiPen products expire on the last day of the month indicated on the package, so those with an August expiry date are good until August 31. Health Canada said anyone who has an anaphylactic reaction but has only an expired EpiPen should use the expired product and immediately call 911.
