COVID-19

To date, 45.4 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine have been supplied to the US government, according to a recent update from the company that details progress on their ongoing collaboration with the US government.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Kurt Proctor, PhD, RPh, senior vice president of strategic initiatives at the NCPA, on his outlook on the future of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout under the Biden administration.

As Pharmacy Times® goes to press this month, there is a lot of encouraging news on the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) front.

Medication reconciliation is a critical component of the oncology pharmacistʼs duties that has been performed safely over the phone with the patient, caregiver, and pharmacy with the assistance of electronic health records.

Study suggests that when individuals are expected to wear a mask, people perceive a lower risk with leaving home and visiting public locations.

Across the country, independent community pharmacies are vital resources in areas without many other pharmacies or health care providers accessible to patients.

Our cover article focuses on notable oncology trends for 2021.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Kurt Proctor, PhD, RPh, senior vice president of strategic initiatives at the NCPA, on positive stories from pharmacies engaged in COVID-19 vaccinations and any unforeseen issues that may have arisen at vaccination sites.

In a discussion regarding racial disparities and impediments to getting more people of color vaccinated, Laurie Zephyrin, MD, MPH, MBA, vice president of the delivery system reform at The Commonwealth Fund, explained some of the key factors.

A community pharmacist reflects on spending time in quarantine after a positive COVID-19 test in the family.

Pharmacists must be ready to roll up their sleeves and administer the COVID-19 vaccine to millions of Americans.

ACTIV-3, a master protocol, is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.

The investigators also found significant racial disparities, with Black patients with dementia more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than white patients with dementia.

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

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.