BY LAUREL RAXTER, Freshman
BLYTHEWOOD-- When the price of the EpiPen rose in August, it affected many people in the Blythewood area, especially those with major allergies.
“My EpiPens are replaced every summer for the new school year,” freshman Emily Sparrow said. Having to replace EpiPens every year will cost an average of $600, USA Today reported.
USA Today reported that the price of an EpiPen in 2007 was $57, but in 2016, it rose to over $600 for a medicine that can save a person’s life.
According to USA Today, the price increase is, “putting life-saving treatment out of reach to consumers who need it most.”
The Daily Wire said the only reason the price of the EpiPen rose was so the makers of the EpiPen, Mylan Inc., can make more money.
Even though people do not have to use their EpiPens on a yearly basis, they still have to replace it every year because the Epinephrine medicine can expire which could make the treatment not work and could end up being fatal.
“I haven’t used my EpiPen since I was 4 years old, but it is still replaced every year,” freshman Shelby Webster said.
The Daily Wire says that some families have their EpiPens being payed for by medical insurance so they do not have to pay the full amount for the pair of EpiPens.
Having to use two shots means the EpiPen will have to be replaced again so another accident will not turn fatal.
"If the event is extremely serious, the EpiPen might have to be used again after 15 minutes of the first injection to make sure nothing will happen if the one shot is not enough," according to parent of freshman Emily Sparrow, Kerry Sparrow.
This EpiPen price increase has affected many families throughout the state and this change will be difficult for some families to deal with and major allergies makes the case even worse.
