Following an extensive review process by the ASCIA anaphylaxis committee, ASCIA Action Plans have been updated.  The 2021 versions of the following plans are now available at www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/ascia-action-plan-for-anaphylaxis:

• ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (RED) EpiPen^®, Anapen^® and General with QR Code versions for adults or children with medically confirmed allergies, who have been prescribed adrenaline autoinjectors. Anapen^® is expected to be available in Australia on the PBS from September 2021. 
• ASCIA Action Plan for Drug (Medication) Allergy (GREEN) for adults or children with medically confirmed drug (medication) allergies, who have not been prescribed adrenaline autoinjectors.
• ASCIA Action Plan for Allergic Reactions (GREEN) for adults or children with medically confirmed food or insect allergies, who have not been prescribed adrenaline autoinjectors. 

The main change to the 2021 ASCIA Action Plans is that the number of positioning images has increased from three to five:

• Each plan now includes images that show the recovery position and holding a young child flat, not upright.
• Wording above the images has been expanded to provide more detailed explanations.

Other changes that have been made in response to requests by several reviewers are as follows:

• The wording ‘- these are signs of anaphylaxis for insect allergy’ after ‘Abdominal pain, vomiting’ has been highlighted in bold.
• ‘Give other medications (if prescribed)’ has been changed to ‘Give antihistamine (if prescribed)’.
• In the left column the space for ‘Confirmed allergens’ has been expanded, wording has been updated in the family/emergency contacts, authorisation/consent and review sections, and the adrenaline doses have been reordered to start with the lowest dose of 150mg.

Current ASCIA Action Plans are the 2021 versions, however, the 2020 and 2018 versions are still valid for use throughout 2021. ASCIA Action Plans do not expire, and therefore the plan is still valid beyond the recommended review date, which is a guide for patients to see their doctor.

ASCIA First Aid Plans for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE) EpiPen^®, Anapen^® and General with QR Code versions have been updated to be consistent with the 2021 ASCIA Action Plans and are also available at www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/ascia-action-plan-for-anaphylaxis