15 Million Americans Live with Food Allergies Today
Lisa Gable, CEO, FARE
(McLean, VA, Wednesday, August 15, 2018) – A national epinephrine auto-injector shortage has remained unresolved since May. Eighty two percent of people who took a Food Allergy & Research Education (FARE) survey said they either could not fill or could only partially fill their prescription for epinephrine. This crisis is leaving families managing food allergies feeling frustrated and anxious during this critical Back-to-School season, when parents need to ensure their kids have this lifesaving medication with them – and at school.
15 million Americans live with food allergies today. Food allergy in children has grown 50% between 1997 and 2011, and anaphylactic reactions are also on the rise.
Lisa Gable, CEO of FARE, explains more about what you can do if you or your child is affected by this shortfall.
SOUNDBITE:
THIS IMPACTS NEARLY SIX MILLION CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES. THAT MEANS ROUGHLY TWO IN EVERY CLASSROOM. WITH KIDS HEADED BACK TO SCHOOL, THIS EPINEPHRINE SHORTAGE IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THOSE WHO ARE AFFECTED CAN TAKE THREE STEPS: VISIT HEALTHMART-DOT-COM TO FIND INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES THAT MAY HAVE STOCK AVAILABLE; ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO PRESCRIBE A DIFFERENT BRAND; AND IN AN EMERGENCY, USE YOUR EXPIRED AUTO-INJECTOR IF IT IS ALL YOU HAVE AND CALL NINE-ONE-ONE FOR FOLLOW UP TREATMENT. NO ONE AT RISK FOR ANAPHYLAXIS SHOULD BE WITHOUT LIFESAVING MEDICATION JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN’T ACCESS OR AFFORD IT.
For more information and if you’re experiencing challenges filling a prescription, please visit foodallergy.org.