FundaPen2 Update - Supply Issues Affecting FundaPen2 Rollout

FundaPen2 Update - Supply Issues Affecting FundaPen2 Rollout 
  Allergy NZ’s FundaPen2 initiative has had a highly successful launch, with more than 600 free EpiPens® delivered to eligible patients in the first two weeks of the programme!  
 
While Allergy New Zealand is working full steam ahead to ensure 150mg EpiPens® are available for children with severe allergies, we have unfortunately hit supply issues with 300mg adult EpiPens®. 

Click here for the FundaPen update
Click here for Fundapen Protocol
 

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Freight Delay for Adult Dose EpiPens® 
Viatris NZ Ltd (ex Mylan), which is the sole supplier of adrenaline auto injectors to New Zealand, has advised us that the order they submitted for adult dose EpiPens® in October last year, will now not arrive until the end of March because of global COVID freight delays. Their advice to prescribers is to not expect FundaPen2 prescriptions for adults to be filled until April 2022 at the earliest. 
 
This delay is far from desirable, and we wholeheartedly thank Pub Charity for continuing to support us with their $350,000 donation for free EpiPens®, for everyone who is at risk of anaphylaxis or advised to carry an EpiPen®.  
 
Please Keep Prescribing 
To ensure as many people as possible benefit from FundaPen2, it is important to keep prescribing under the FundaPen2 protocols. Patients will receive their free EpiPen®.  It just won’t be within 10 days of submitting your prescription to Queenstown Pharmacy. 
The pharmacy will fulfil prescriptions for FundaPen2 as soon as stock is available. 

Once prescriptions for 3,355 FundaPens have been received, normal prescription protocols will apply, and adrenaline auto injectors will once again be self-funded by patients and their families. 

Why have FundaPen2? 
The aim of FundaPen2 is to raise awareness and inspire Pharmac and the Ministry of Health to fund two EpiPens®per year for every Kiwi diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis. We estimate the cost of such a decision to be less than $5 million per year - a small price to pay to look after the estimated 20,000 New Zealanders living at risk of anaphylaxis. ​

Thank you for your ongoing support of the allergy community. ​

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