COVID-19

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend the use of a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is the same strength as the primary series of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, with findings demonstrating the same level of safety as the primary series.

A survey of caregivers and parents of children with cancer shows that nearly one-third expressed hesitancy to vaccinate their youngsters against COVID-19.

The difference in COVID-19 infection time between patients receiving heparin and those who did not was approximately 4 days on average.

Study finds COVID-19 booster shot was extremely beneficial for all patients with cancer, especially those with a blood cancer.

Their statement also calls upon the business community to support the new federal requirement that individuals working for companies with more than 100 employees be vaccinated.

After 6 to 7 months, just 8 individuals contracted proven symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection with rapid favorable evolution, study results show.

Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) is a potent ribonucleoside analog that blocks SARS-CoV-2 replication by acting as a competitive substrate of virally-encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Pharmacists are at the forefront of not only providing COVID-19 vaccinations, but also the information a patient needs before receiving the vaccine

The time is now for pharmacists to do some initial checks and pre-holiday planning to make sure they are ready for the coming weeks.

Study results show that the type of vaccine patients received was a major factor in inducing an immune response, with those receiving mRNA shots faring better.

CMS Interim Final Rule on mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for all facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid potentially impacts pharmacies that provide services under a contract or arrangement with these facilities.

If authorized, ritonavir could be prescribed broadly as an at-home treatment to help reduce COVID-19 severity, hospitalizations, and deaths, as well as to reduce the probability of infection following exposure among adults.

Trends to watch include increased spending on drugs and treatments, expansion of pharmacists' role, and ongoing interest in home infusion therapy.

Study results show that those with lymphoproliferative disorders are the most likely to develop the virus after vaccination.

Parents or legal guardians of children in this age range are now able to schedule appointments for vaccination.

A single 1200 mg subcutaneous dose of casirivimab and imdevimab (Regen-COV, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals), a preventative COVID-19 treatment, reduced the risk of contracting COVID-19 by 81.6% during months 2-8, according to additional results from a phase 3 trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The company plans to submit data to the European Medicines Agency, FDA, and other global regulators.

Structural changes to the COVID-19 virus highlight the need to expand the research efforts.

The difference between individuals who were vaccinated and had the infection were higher at different intervals than for those who were unvaccinated.

A new poll shows that this year 64% of individuals between aged 50 and 64 years say they already got or are likely to get their influenza shots up from 54% last year.

In addition to the prevention of disease in children, COVID-19 vaccination can also limit disruptions in school attendance so that children can participate safely in school and other activities.

Study shows that about half the pediatric cases were symptomatic compared with 88% for individuals aged 18 years and older.

Pharmacists and technicians have an opportunity to prove their value as immunizers now that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for use in children ages 5 to 11.

The results also showed they were nearly 20 times more effective at preventing hospitalizations from the virus for individuals older than 65 than a prior infection alone.

The results of a study show that individuals who received 3 doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine had a 93% lower risk of hospitalization than those who had just 2.

Among those who were infected with the delta variant (126), 25% were fully immunized and 38% were unvaccinated, study results show.

Mathematical model from Penn State shows an alternative to business shutdowns and stay-at-home orders that are unsustainable over time.

Linda Mendonça, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC, president of the National Association of School Nurses, discusses a new poll released by the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project and the National Association of School Nurses about parents’ plans to vaccinate their school-aged children.