Immunization

COVID-19 vaccination opportunities will likely be present for years to come.

This has caused an ongoing problem with mistrust in many vaccines and medications, since there is still uncertainty surrounding how they affect other races and ethnicities.

A discussion on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on pharmacy staff and solutions to help combat pharmacy staff fatigue, burnout, and vaccine hesitancy.

Ticovac is the only FDA-approved vaccine against the TBE virus for individuals visiting or living in TBE endemic areas.

John Beckner, RPh, discusses some of the obstacles to achieving herd immunity for COVID-19.

Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, MPH, AAHIVP, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy, discusses the importance of Black pharmacists in creating equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations.

With consideration of recent COVID-19 vaccine approval in adolescents, Jennifer Adams, PharmD, EdD, discusses pharmacy’s role in immunizing children of all ages.

The investigators said that attention-grabbing anti-vaccine arguments, regardless of scientific basis, as well as an overall distrust of the pharmaceutical industry, science, and health providers, seems to be primarily responsible.

Findings reflect fewer visits to health facilities, social distancing, and other safety measures implemented during the pandemic.

Suzanne Soliman, PharmD, BCMAS, discusses how pharmacy can help communities catch up on missed and overdue immunizations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jennifer Adams, PharmD, EdD, share thoughts on why right now is the perfect opportunity to advocate for expansion of privileges to advance pharmacy practice.

The analysis used AstraZeneca’s global safety database, which contains all spontaneously reported adverse events from real-world use of its medicines and vaccines worldwide.

Liz Oler, PharmD, discusses the short- and long-term impact of the PREP ACT on expanded privileges and practice changes within the pharmacy profession.

Ed Cohen, PharmD, FAPhA, leads a discussion in which panelists share thoughts on pharmacies being at the center of immunization services for the entire family.

Staying on track with immunizations means modifying workflows and reallocating pharmacy staff time.

Since the start of the pandemic, politicization and misinformation have led to hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine. However, vaccine hesitancy is not a new behavior.

With many people remaining to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and everyone 6 months and older needing an annual influenza vaccine for the 2021-2022 season, many pharmacies are turning to pharmacy technicians to assist in the process.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased vigilance over the proper disposal of vaccine-related materials, such as vials, needles, syringes, and bandages.

Individuals with COVID-19 who had not had a flu shot were up to 20% more likely to be admitted to the ICU and were up to 58% more likely to visit the emergency department.

A huge cost savings could be generated with the success of a hepatitis C vaccine.

The study plans to enroll approximately 180 participants to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of its quadrivalent seasonal influenza mRNA vaccine in adults 18 years and older.

A retrospective case series published in JAMA Cardiology found that although there are rare instances of myocarditis—inflammation of the heart muscle—in younger men following COVID-19 vaccination, the greater risk for heart damage and death comes from COVID-19 infection.

Although most vaccines are administered during infancy and childhood, it is important for people in all stages of their life to continue protection efforts from eradicated and new diseases.

Study will bring together senior leaders, experts and scholars from across the US to co-create a strategic roadmap and actionable next steps for optimizing use of medications, vaccines, and related therapies for US populations.

Researchers from Boston College and Microsoft Research may have found a way to combat these low percentages.

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

Susan Lang, MA, MBA, CEO of XIL Health and former senior executive at Express Scripts, discusses some of the issues pharmacies are experiencing around staffing to support COVID-19 immunizations and how these issues may change post-pandemic.

The vaccine includes all 13 serotypes in the Prevnar 13 vaccine, as well as conjugates for 7 additional serotypes associated with high case-fatality rates, antibiotic resistance, and meningitis.

Pharmacy Times spoke with Tomas Villanueva, DO, MBA, FACPE, SFHM, practicing health care provider, and associate vice president for clinical resources at Vizient, about what pharmacists should know about vaccine hesitancy in general.