Canada is facing a ‘life threatening’ EpiPen shortage with Health Canada saying the medication may become unavailable to consumers in August.

The shortage is blamed on a manufacturing issue with Pfizer Canada which affects the adult dosage 0.3 mg auto-injectors, which provide a shot of epinephrine to individuals with severe allergies and are at risk of life threatening allergic reactions such as bee stings and peanuts.

Freson Bros pharmacist Pat Doyle says it is an issue with the parts of the device, not the availability of the medication itself.

“Epinephrine is a common drug, it’s used all the time in hospitals. It’s still available but not to the layperson,” he says.

Health Canada had issued a warning of the shortage in January this year, but on July 30 Pfizer had advised that “while some pharmacies may currently have some inventory on-hand, it will likely be depleted in the coming days or weeks.”

The shortage affects both the adult dosage and to a lesser degree the youth dosage, EpiPen Jr, continues to be supplied, though inventory for it is also dwindling.

There are currently no other epinephrine pen manufacturers in Canada, causing Canadians to be at the mercy of one company. There are four other companies who produce equivalent products, all of which have been approved by Health Canada, though the manufacturers have not entered the Canadian market.

Health Canada encourages individuals not to stockpile or hoard the medication as it may be taking away the medication from someone else who may need it.

The shortage has been described as ‘temporary’ by Health Canada, but the implications of the medication potentially becoming unavailable is concerning for local pharmacists.

“If a person doesn’t have one and they get stung by a bee, they can die,” says Riverside Value Drug Mart pharmacist Ray Ainscough. “It’s life threatening.”

While people are concerned about EpiPen availability, Doyle says it is not the only drug causing concern.

“It is scary, but it’s not the only drug that is suffering shortages. We’re struggling with shortages and manufacture recalls for the last while,” he says.

Both Ainscough and Doyle recommend people unable to purchase an EpiPen to keep an expired one on them if possible. People can also keep an over-the-counter antihistamine on their person in case of a reaction.

“It buys you time to get to the emergency room,” Ainscough says.

Doyle says “in our day and age, there is still time to call 911 and get to the hospital.”

Health Canada is encouraging Canadians to visit drugshortagescanada.ca or contact Pfizer Canada directly for up-to-date information about the shortage and estimated re-supply dates. Patients with questions or concerns about the shortage may also wish to speak to their health care professional.

Wheatland area firefighters are concerned with changes in the new Fire Service Bylaw being drafted by Wheatland County, and on August 14 they are hoping to have their voices heard.

The County passed the first reading of the bylaw this spring. In response, a pamphlet has been circulated outlining some of the rural fire association’s concerns, and area firefighters will be attending the Wheatland County Counil meeting on August 14 at 4:30 p.m. in their chambers.

  For Brett Gates, president of the Standard Rural Fire Association, he would like the association’s voices to be heard.

“We have asked them on more than one occasion, to sit down and meet with us and talk with us as equal partners and they refuse to meet with us. The only meeting they will entertain is at their bylaw meeting where they are holding the gavel,” said Gates. “We are supposed to be an equal partner in this, we are volunteers and the way we are being treated is terrible, with zero respect.”

  Albert Jensen of the Dalum Fire Department says the community takes pride in the work they do, and is afraid the new bylaw will take away some of those feelings of ownership.

Jensen says currently there is a 60/40 partnership with the county for funding equipment. The county pays 60 per cent while the fire associations contribute 40 per cent.

“We want to keep it that way,” said Albert Jensen. “The direction is they are going to fund us wholly and then they will be able to tell us what we can and can’t buy.”

He adds that they take pride in their department and their equipment and worry that if the county funds it all they will lose that control.

“That pride in being part of that machine and making it operable is something we don’t want to lose,”  he said.

Jensen is also concerned as a ratepayer with the county fully funding equipment.

A statement on Wheatland County’s social media platform says the increases will be minimal and strategic planning and bulk buying will help control costs.

Jensen is also worried about the autonomy of the fire associations. He said already there have been associations in Wheatland that are no longer functioning.

“They have already taken over Strathmore Rural, Carseland and they just took over Gleichen/Cluny. They will belong 100 per cent to the county. They say they are not going to touch the rest of us, so we will maintain our association as it stands today but with what we have seen recently, this is the first step of them taking the rest of us over,” said Jensen.

According to a response on social media from Wheatland County, Wheatland has not taken over any fire associations, although Wheatland West and the Carseland Associations have asked the county to assume responsibilities.

Gates understands that each association will enter into a contract with the county, however with this bylaw, most terms are already dictated.

“They are putting so much in that bylaw, in my opinion, that has no business being in the bylaw. They have all the operational rules and procedures for the rural fire associations, that used to be part of a negotiated agreement, but now its mandated in the bylaw.