POCONO TOWNSHIP -- EpiPens are used by people with certain allergies, including some food allergies and bee stings.
The price of this potentially lifesaving tool has skyrocketed, which is causing concern for those who are required to have them on hand.
According to salon.com, the cost of one EpiPen has gone from about $50 back in 2004 to about $300 today--an increase of 500 percent.
Drug maker Mylan is the primary manufacturer of EpiPens in the United States. Many experts blame the company's near-monopoly on the market for the skyrocketing cost.
Inside Little Discoveries Daycare near Tannersville, administrators have Epipens on hand in case someone may have an allergic reaction.
"Parents do provide the EpiPens, so I mean if costs continue to go up, it could potentially be a huge problem for children that need these," said Little Discoveries Daycare administrator Kimberly Tirado.
Right now, these pens cost up to $650 for a pack of two. Administrators at the daycare believe it's too high of a price to pay when trying to save someone's life.
"A price should not be put on these. They should just be provided especially to parents that need them. It's something that’s needed just to prevent an issue from happening."
More people who can't afford an EpiPen means more calls will come out for an ambulance. Pocono Mountain Regional EMS has noticed a number of calls coming in recently for people needing an EpiPen because of an allergic reaction.
"If people do not have an EpiPen, yes, they will be calling us more often," said Pocono Mountain Regional EMS operations manager Denise Doremus.
Doremus tells Newswatch 16 it is mandatory for their trucks to have two EpiPens on hand at all times.
"We need a pediatric and an adult and we need two of each, so right there is very expensive."
EMS officials also call the year and a half shelf life on the EpiPens a problem and hope something can be done to lessen the burden sooner rather than later.
