Information for Pharmacies: Adrenaline Auto-injectors in Schools
Please find below a communication from the ICB regarding Adrenaline Auto-injectors in Schools. This information has also been shared with pharmacies by email.
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Dear Pharmacy Team,
Recent Allergy Safety in Schools Statutory Guidance from the Department of Education requires all schools across England to stock spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) for emergency use, starting from September 1, 2026.
The Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 permit schools in England to purchase “spare” AAI devices, without a prescription, for emergency use, to treat anaphylaxis. This provides the legal framework for pharmacies to provide AAIs to schools, where these are requested.
Requests from schools for emergency AAIs need to be written, and must:
- Be signed by the principal or head teacher (ideally on appropriate headed paper, although this is not a legal requirement)
- State the name of the school for which the product is required
- State the total quantity needed, and
- Confirm that the purpose for which the supply is being requested is that of supplying or administering the relevant medicinal product to pupils at the school in an emergency.
Because two AAIs are often required during anaphylaxis episodes, pairs of devices are likely to be requested. Depending on the age range of the school, these could be either 150mcg (for under 6s) or 300mcg devices (for over 6s). Any brand can be supplied.
The supply would constitute a private transaction, with a fee charged by the pharmacy.
Please note that The Department of Education allergy safety statutory guidance also provides wider advice to schools on the storage of emergency AAIs, how to use them, and information on developing school allergy safety policies.
Pharmacies are asked to ensure that all relevant team members are aware of both the new statutory requirements for school allergy safety, and the legislative framework in place that enables pharmacy supply of AAIs to schools. This will ensure that pharmacy teams can make informed decisions if these devices are requested by headteachers/principals.
