EpiPen Shortage Worrying For People With Allergies

   People may have allergies and may even be allergic to things in this world. There are EpiPens for when people that have an allergic reaction to something, but EpiPens have been having a shortage that can make a life and death situation.

   “We nurses don’t like it because it is a very big problem and could affect people’s lives. How it affects people is that it could be a life and death situation and that’s a really bad situation to think about,” nurse Stacy Sarnell said.

   The EpiPen is used for people that have had an allergic reaction to foods, chemicals, medicines, and more. Some pharmacies have had unable to restock their EpiPens because of the shortage. There is a generic EpiPen that does work and doesn’t have the same name as the EpiPen.

   “I am allergic to tree nuts and have an EpiPen, but I have not used it yet. I have used Benadryl for an allergic reaction. I think the EpiPen shortage will make people have anxiety because they could die if they have an allergic reaction to something and if there are no more EpiPens, which could make a life and death situation,” freshman Madelyn Hartmann said.

   Epipens are so useful that they save millions of humans lives when someone eats or takes something that their body can’t handle. An EpiPen can save so many people that it is a lifesaving product and an EpiPen can treat severe associated allergic reactions called Anaphylaxis from bee stings to drug reactions, to exercise-induced cases.

   “I am allergic to bananas, amoxicillin, strawberries, almonds, pecans, and walnuts. I don’t have an EpiPen but how I feel about the EpiPen shortage is that people might be having a life and death situation because they need medicine to survive an allergic reaction. Without an EpiPen, they will not be able to stay alive or could have a really bad allergic reaction which can lead to bad things. I wish that EpiPens could last for two years because when it expires it can lead to the person having a bigger allergic reaction if they used the expired pen,” junior Lauren King said.