COVID-19

Positive COVID-19 cases in the United States totaled 731,000 this week, a sharp decline from the average of 1.3 million over the last 12 weeks.

Many patients have turned to pharmacies for immunizations and testing during the pandemic, creating great opportunities for pharmacies to grow their patient population.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Kim White, MBA, vice president of Numerof & Associates, on how changes in business strategies in hospitals due to the COVID-19 pandemic may affect how hospital pharmacies conduct their business.

Despite concerns about increased transmissibility, experts are optimistic that the current vaccines will provide some level of protection when combined with the body's immune response.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Kurt Proctor, PhD, RPh, senior vice president of strategic initiatives at the NCPA, on the Biden administration’s announcement of the launch of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 vaccination.

Investigators also recommended a method of knotting and tucking in the sides of a medical mask, in order to minimize the leakage of air around the edges.

On-demand, continuing education video series provides exclusive access to the latest information and updates on the pandemic and vaccine.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Lee Rosebush, JD, PharmD, MS, MBA, partner at Baker & Hostetler, on an interactive state-by-state vaccination rollout guide his law firm created to help pharmacies navigate the various state approaches to COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

Experts say the clinical presentation of herpes zoster in pregnant women should be carefully monitored and reported for further assessment, especially if it is associated with other signs of COVID-19.

The findings suggest that the prevalence of these conditions among cancer survivors is nearly 40% higher than that in the general population.

There are 3 more COVID-19 vaccines that are expected to become available in the United States in the coming months from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax, with specific implications for each one.

A clinical trial of patients with COVID-19 at high risk for disease progression showed that a single intravenous infusion of bamlanivimab and etesevimab together significantly reduce COVID-19-related hospitalization and death.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Alex Hontos, JD, partner at Dorsey & Whitney, on the executive order President Biden signed directing agencies to utilize the Defense Production Act, among other tools, to prioritize production of COVID-19 vaccines and material.

Moreover, 9 in 10 adults say that they hope the country moves toward unity, according to Stress in America: January 2021 Stress Snapshot, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Investigators are working to create a second generation of the vaccine, adapted to target variants with mutations similar to those found in South Africa.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Sandra Divarco, JD, partner at McDermott Will & Emery, on the complex considerations facing hospitals, health systems, and pharmacies during COVID-19 vaccinations.

This week on Pharmacy Times, there are a number of important topics that will be covered and posted throughout the week:

The report, developed by Thomas McAndrew, a computational scientist and faculty member at Lehigh University's College of Health, and colleagues, uses data from experts and trained forecasters, combining their predictions into a single consensus forecast.

Steve Moore, PharmD, chairman of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York, said the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program will work alongside his state’s own rollouts to get shots in arms.

The clinical trials analyzed were from the United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa, where COVID-19 variants are of significant concern.

In a recent congressional hearing, the NACDS submitted a statement underscoring the critical role of pharmacies, pharmacists, and pharmacy teams in the COVID-19 response and recovery efforts taking place across the country.

The investigational vaccine is compatible with standard vaccine distribution channels.

Cardiovascular health risks exacerbated by lifestyle changes caused by the pandemic will become an even more critical issue in coming years.

The results are from a public polling of more than 800 English-speaking adults nationwide in a study published in the journal Vaccine.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Nurisha Wade, MBA, and Farah Towfic, PharmD, MBA, of US Pharmacopeia, on how the release of the COVID-19 Vaccine Handling Toolkit may help pharmacists quickly and safely vaccinate.