Mylan extends EpiPen4Schools program

PITTSBURGH — Three years after it launched its EpiPen4ASchools program, Mylan announced this week that it would continue through the 2015-2016 school year. Since the anaphylaxis awareness program began, more than 56,000 schools have enrolled in EpiPen4Schools. 

"As we reflect on the first three years of the program, we are proud of the progress made to enhance anaphylaxis preparedness in schools across the country," Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said. “Up to 25% of anaphylaxis cases at school occur in those who have not been previously diagnosed with a life-threatening allergy, so we encourage eligible schools to enroll before students return this fall." 

Schools who participate in the program are eligible to receive either four free EpiPen or EpiPen Jr auto-injectors, a storage unit called the EpiLocker and a training video on identifying and treating anaphylaxis that also instructs on how to properly use an EpiPen epinephrine injector. Schools can also receive an EpiPen trainer to practice, and a poster with anaphylaxis info 

"This past school year, EpiPen^® Auto-Injectors provided by the EpiPen4Schools program were used in two incidents,” said Connie Trent, the Health Services Facilitator for Forsyth County Schools in Cumming, Ga. "It is of utmost importance that school personnel are able to act quickly, and with the support and training resources provided through EpiPen4Schools, our staff is prepared to respond."

A recent online survey of some 6,000 participating schools found that 48.7% of anaphylactic events were treated with and EpiPen from the EpiPen4Schools program. For more information on the program, click here.