COVID-19

Study shows that treatment with rituximab (Rituxan) for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma prior to COVID-19 vaccination significantly lowered the number of patients who developed blocking antibodies for the virus.

Data suggest that omicron-specific CD8-positive T cell responses were more than 80% cross-reactive with the CD8-positive T cell response to the original strain of the virus.

Following the first 3 days after a COVID-19 diagnosis, the risk of stroke quickly decreased.

Monoclonal antibodies are highly effective at treating the virus, but they have often gone to the healthiest patients, instead of those over aged 65 years.

The results of a pilot program investigating the efficacy of remote patient monitoring for patients with cancer showed that it helped to keep high-risk individuals out of the hospital.

Communication, flexibility, and virtual solutions will remain key as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Millions of people are still getting COVID-19, so the need for additional tools to fight the virus remains strong.

Pfizer and BioNTech are seeking an Emergency Use Authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine to include children 6 months through 4 years of age.

Being fully vaccinated was associated with a lower risk of requiring supplemental oxygen compared to being unvaccinated, as well as a lower risk of intensive care unit admission.

Children ages 5 to under 12 years received a 2-dose schedule of 10 µg each whereas children under age 5 received a lower 3 µg dose for each injection in the phase 2/3 study.

The research team found that levels of depression are at least 3 times higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2-dose Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the FDA based on a comprehensive submission package including efficacy and safety data approximately 6 months after the second dose.

The pill molnupiravir and the intravenous drug remdesivir were just as effective against the omicron variant as they were against earlier strains.

But vaccines do not cause infertility or harm pregnancy chances, Boston University School of Public Health research results show.

The results of a new UCLA-led study show that the pandemic has exacerbated disparities in care, widening inequities.

But study results show some are not sold on performing the task; adequate training can build their confidence.

The study will have 3 cohorts examining different regimens of the current Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or an omicron-based vaccine and will use participants from the phase 3 COVID-19 booster study.

The findings suggest that pregnant women should not delay COVID-19 vaccination until late pregnancy.

Mitchel Rothholz, RPh, MBA, chief of governance and state affiliates at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and executive director of the APhA Foundation, discusses the results of a nationwide survey of pharmacists during the ongoing pandemic.

Gaps in vaccination rates may be related to access and not just distrust and skepticism, investigators from Ohio State University find.

New study results show that of those who tested or were presumed positive for SARS-CoV-2, 44% developed neurological symptoms.

Investigators learned that the degree of response depended on whether an individual has had 1, 2, 3, or 4, exposures through infection, vaccination, or both.

Some study limitations include that follow-up data were missing for some patients who dropped out of the study during the follow-up stages and the timing of the follow-up echocardiograms were random and driven by preference versus standard protocol.

The kit helps detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in nasopharyngeal, anterior nasal, mid-turbinate nasal or oropharyngeal swab specimens from individuals suspected of COVID-19 by their health care provider.

Both data sets confirm previously announced results showing that the boost protects against the variant.

Investigators say that the post-acute sequalae markers are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels in the blood, pre-existing types 2 diabetes, the presence of certain antibodies, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in the blood.

Investigators analyzed data to determine the outcomes and risk factors for severe cases and how individuals with inflammatory bowel disease are affected.

New study results show that there are more incidences of this inflammation of the heart muscle related to not being vaccinated than there are to the vaccine itself.

Having such a program spearheaded by pharmacists has helped show the public the vital roles that pharmacists play.

The FDA also expanded the pediatric emergency use authorization for remdesivir to include the treatment of non-hospitalized pediatric patients at high risk of disease progression.