EpiPen Junior

You might already know about a problem with the supply of EpiPen Junior, which is expected to last several months. 

If you have your normal supplies of EpiPen Junior, continue just as you normally would. That means:

• try and avoid the things your child is allergic to as much as possible
• if your child has a severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction:
  • give them their adrenaline pen straight away
  • call 999 (say ‘anaphylaxis’ even if your child starts to feel better) 
  • say you think your child has had a severe allergic reaction and that you have given them an adrenaline pen
• check the expiry dates of all your EpiPen Juniors – the expiry date of a pen is the final day of the month listed on the device (for example the final date of a November pen is 30 November)
• don’t ask for a repeat prescription until the expiry date is nearly reached – stocks of pens will be kept for those who need them most

Other adrenaline auto-injectors 

If you need a replacement EpiPen Junior and haven’t been able to get one, you might instead be given a device called Jext or Emerade. These might say epinephrine on them but it is exactly the same drug.

These pens are used in a different way, so you will need to read the instructions and/ or watch a training video to learn how to use it.

Your GP or practice nurse can give you advice on your new pen.

If you have been given a pen that is in-date, but not your usual brand, it’s better to use this than using an out-of-date pen that is your usual brand.

If all your auto-injectors are out-of-date

If your child has a severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction and all the adrenaline pens you have are out-of-date you should:

• give the out-of-date pen
• call 999 saying ‘anaphylaxis’ even if your child starts to feel better 
• say you think your child has had a severe allergic reaction and that you have given them an adrenaline pen

An out-of-date pen might give your child a lower dose of adrenaline but it’s not dangerous and is better than waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

When new stock does arrive, people who have out-of-date pens will be prioritised.

If your child weighs more than 25kg 

If your child weighs more than 25kg (four stone), your GP should prescribe a 300mcg adrenaline pen when the pens you have expire.

The pen might say it’s for children who weigh more than 30kg but experts have said that during this period of reduced supply it can be used for children who weigh more than 25kg.

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Develop your skills

Whether you’re a school leaver or someone looking to return to work, developing your skills can help you to gain confidence and the skills you need to get the job you want.

From further education colleges and universities, to improving your essential skills like maths and computing, there are lots of courses and programmes available. Visit the following page  to find out more:

Careers advice

If you’ve just left school or university, or maybe you’ve decided to change jobs, getting some careers advice can help you take that next step into employment.

Visit your local Jobs and Benefits office

Advisors at your local Jobs and Benefits office can give you lots of help and support if you are looking for work. They can:

• help you to develop the skills and competence to become employable, if you are not ‘job-ready’
• match you to suitable job opportunities
• administer Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support and Incapacity Benefit in Jobs and Benefits Offices

You can find your local job centre at this link:

Applying for jobs

Job hunting can be nerve-racking, but there are things you can do to get prepared:

• get your CV sorted and keep it up to date
• speak to the Careers Service or your local job centre
• read our advice on job application forms and interviews

You can find links below:

You’ll find more information on finding and applying for jobs on the following pages:

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Signs and symptoms

It is important for women to look out for changes in the appearance of their breasts, such as:

• a change in size or outline of either breast, especially those caused by arm movement
• any puckering, dimpling or redness of the skin
• veins that stand out more than usual

Women should be aware of any feelings of pain or discomfort in one part of either the breast or armpit, particularly if it is new and persistent.

Women should also look and feel for any lumps or thickening in either breast that feels different from the other breast, as well as any swelling or lumps under the armpit or around the collarbone.

Also look out for any changes to the nipple, such as a nipple that:

• has become pulled in
• has changed shape
• has a discharge
• bleeds
• has a rash or has crusted, flaky skin

If the change is due to cancer, earlier detection may mean simpler and more successful treatment.

Any changes which are not normal for you should be investigated straight away by your GP. Don’t be embarrassed or ignore any potential signs.

You can find out more on the breast cancer in women page.

While breast cancer is much more common in women, it can also affect men. In rare cases it develops in the small amount of breast tissue men have behind their nipples.

Breast screening

Prevention and early detection are key to saving lives from breast cancer.

All women who are invited for breast screening are encouraged to think about going.

Most women will have normal mammograms. Out of every 100 women who attend for screening, around four are asked to come back for further tests. Most of them will have a normal result.

There is information about screening on the page below.

Screening remains the best way of detecting breast cancer at an early stage when treatment can be more effective.

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Application form for licence

The licence fee where there are less than 100 spectators is £30; for 100 to 1,000 spectators is £80; and for more than 1,000 spectators is £160.

You can find the application forms for a licence at these links:

Application forms are also available:

• by phoning 0300 200 7881
• directly from a registered retailer

Registered firework retailers

Retailers of fireworks must be registered and must display, prominently at the point of sale, their current licence or certificate of registration.

Don’t be tempted to buy from illegal sources as you could face prosecution, and will be gambling with the safety of your family and friends.

You can find a list of registered firework retailers throughout Northern Ireland, listed by town/ city in alphabetical order on the following page:

Members of the public are encouraged to pass information about the illegal sale of fireworks to the PSNI or Crimestoppers on:

Firework safety

Make sure you handle fireworks safely and prevent accidents.

Fireworks can inflict serious injuries if mishandled, so follow the firework code at all times.

You should also be aware of the law around the use of fireworks.

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Getting the vaccine

The flu virus spreads through the air. Because young children don’t always cover their noses or mouths when coughing or sneezing, the virus can spread very quickly among them. 

The free flu vaccine for children provides them with the best defence against the illness and helps protect their wider family and friends.

Pre-school children in Northern Ireland aged two years and over are eligible to get the vaccine through their GP.

Children in primaries one to seven will be offered the vaccine in school.

In addition, people over 65, ‘at risk’ children and adults, and pregnant women, can get the vaccine at their doctor’s surgery.

Some GPs may not invite all of their registered patients who are eligible for vaccination directly.

If you, or someone in your care, is eligible to be vaccinated but does not get an invitation, contact your GP to find out more about their flu vaccination clinics.

The vaccine changes each year to cover the strains which are likely to be circulating over the course of the flu season, so it’s important to get immunised each year.

As it takes approximately two weeks following vaccination to develop maximum protection against flu, it’s important to get vaccinated. If you wait until flu starts circulating, it may be too late for the vaccine to protect you, so get the flu vaccine and stay well this winter.

Nasal spray

Most children will get the vaccine through a quick and painless nasal spray. The nasal vaccine has been shown to provide even greater protection for children than the flu injection.

There are a few children who cannot get the nasal spray and they will be offered the injection instead.

You can find out more on the flu vaccine for children page.

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