Immunization

There have now been approximately 70,000 pregnant people vaccinated against COVID-19 with no evidence of harm.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Amy Snyder, a member at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, on the implications for pharmacy of mandated COVID-19 vaccinations in higher education institutions.

Just as pharmacists have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kristen Lund, CPhT, a technician at Hy-Vee Pharmacy in Harlan, Iowa, said technicians have taken on greater responsibilities and have become more involved in patient care.

Community pharmacists should consider leaning on their specialty pharmacist peers, where available, as we continue to navigate the new, more virtual normal and attempt to expand these types of services in the future.

According to the researchers, this vaccine was developed using an innovative approach that may eventually open the door to a universal vaccine for coronaviruses, including coronaviruses that previously threatened pandemics or those that cause some cases of the common cold.

The vaccine that could provide protection against existing and future strains of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Pharmaceutical companies have already begun developing these boosters, and Haydock said he expects to see some variant-specific vaccines available by mid-2021.

Errors related to extended-release opioids and COVID-19 vaccines warrant attention and should be a priority.

Nearly half of independent pharmacists surveyed by the National Community Pharmacists Association are not getting enough or any doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

As the FDA and CDC have paused use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, research is ongoing to understand whether cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is directly linked to the vaccine.

The FDA and CDC said that 6 women experienced cerebral venous thrombosis, an extremely rare disorder associated with blood clotting, 6 to 16 days after the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was administered.

COVID-19 has increased the demand for new, safer curbside conveniences and the health care industry—including the pharmacy—has transformed rapidly to meet patient needs and prioritize safety as a result of the pandemic.

The most common reason given for refusal of a COVID-19 vaccine was distrust of the health care system, correctional or government personnel, and institutions.

Indicators of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact, including testing rates, positivity ratio, case rates by overall population, and deaths, are clustered by neighborhood, with low-income and predominantly minority communities experiencing worse outcomes.

Patricia Stinchfield, the president-elect of National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, discusses the recommended framework for vaccine messaging for leaders across sectors.

For the study, the research team modeled COVID-19 transmission rates and the optimal allocation of an initially limited vaccine supply in the United States under a variety of scenarios.

After reviewing the mechanisms of the first three COVID-19 vaccines granted emergency use authorization, we can now address some of the most common concerns that have been expressed regarding vaccine hesitancy.

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

The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine was 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 cases in South Africa, where the B.1.351 variant is prevalent.

Patients who received a flu shot during the last flu season were significantly less likely to test positive for a COVID-19 infection at the start of the pandemic, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Pharmacist-led services are not only important during COVID-19 immunization efforts in the United States, but are additionally critical in vaccination endeavors globally.

The results from a phase 3 trial in a population of American adolescents aged 12 to 15 years found that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 showed 100% efficacy and robust antibody responses.

The Biden administration has moved to activate 40,000 local pharmacies within the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which is a part of the administration’s national COVID-19 vaccination strategy.

The APhA and the CDC announced that they have entered into a collaborative agreement focused on supporting the role of pharmacists in building the public’s confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.

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

Daily national surveys by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) show that although COVID-19 vaccine uptake has increased, the proportion of vaccine-hesitant adults has remained unchanged.

The pharmacy community has stepped up mightily to ensure this massive health care effort is successful.

A prognostic COVID-19 Severity Test has been launched for the identification of high-risk individuals who are likely to experience the most severe COVID-19 complications upon exposure to the virus.

Researchers found no evidence that protection against COVID-19 reinfection declined within a 6-month follow-up period.

As the pandemic has continued, it has helped shine a light on how important pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians can help impact their communities.