TORONTO, ON – Food Allergy Canada welcomed today’s announcement from Health Canada regarding the confirmed temporary supply of AUVI-Q® epinephrine auto-injectors from kaléo. The unprecedented shipment of this life-saving medication is an important step towards alleviating the pressure families living with food allergies are facing and is a measure Food Allergy Canada has been advocating for.
“This is positive news for Canadians with food allergies and we commend Health Canada for taking the necessary action to secure these devices,” said Jennifer Gerdts, Executive Director of Food Allergy Canada.
Since January of this year, Food Allergy Canada has been working closely with Health Canada, alternate providers, and other key stakeholders to help expedite the possibility of having a second supplier in the market. Now that temporary supply has been secured in the short-term, Food Allergy Canada will continue its advocacy to ensure there is always more than one supplier of this life-saving medication in Canada.
To help address questions patients may have about the AUVI-Q temporary supply, Food Allergy Canada has created patient FAQs, in collaboration with Health Canada and kaléo. The FAQs are available at foodallergycanada.ca.
Food allergy is one of the leading causes of potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions and a serious public health concern, especially among children. More than 2.6 million Canadians are affected by food allergy, and one-in-two Canadians knows someone with a food allergy. As there is no way of predicting how severe a reaction may be and no cure for food allergy, avoidance of allergenic foods is the only means of staying safe.
About Food Allergy Canada
Food Allergy Canada is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping Canadians with food allergies and those who care for them. The organization is committed to creating a safer world for people with potentially life-threatening allergies through education, advocacy, and research. The organization’s approach to reducing the risk of allergic reactions in both children and adults is focused on self-management, community engagement, understanding, and respect. For more information, please visit foodallergycanada.ca.
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For more information please contact:
Christopher Holcroft
Empower Consulting, for Food Allergy Canada
416-996-0767/ 514-844-0664
christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca