Schools talk about what EpiPen price increase means

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) —  As the price of EpiPens grows across the country , so does concern from parents and caretakers.

WWAY talked to local schools about what the price increase means for the devices that can stop life-threatening emergencies caused by allergic reactions.

“They are lifesaving,” said Brunswick County Schools lead nurse Wanda Willis. “You never know when or where somebody’s going to show up and have an allergic reaction.”

A standard two-pack of EpiPens costs about $600. That same pack cost $100 in 2009. North Carolina law requires all schools to have the pens. Willis said that means a box (two pens come in each box) of a pediatric dose and a box of an adult dose.

Brunswick and New Hanover County schools receive their pens for free through the EpiPen 4 Schools grant program. The pens expire after a year, meaning the schools must restock, even if they go unused. While they’re not always needed, Willis said they are necessary.
“I had one nurse in the county who used one and that was this past school year,” she said. “Say somebody walks in our school and visits us and didn’t even realize they had an allergy, and had an allergy. It could be a staff member, it could be a student.”

Students with known allergies are still required to have their own pen with the school.

Brunswick County buys pens for middle and high school athletic programs. New Hanover County buys them for Pre-K programs not covered by the grant and said they saved nearly $500 during the past two school years by reaching out to local pharmacies for help.