COVID-19

In an interview, Nishita Hira, PharmD, CSP, clinical program manager at AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, discussed the role specialty pharmacists can play during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Micah Cost, PharmD, MS, who was recently selected as the new chief executive officer of PQA, on his plans for the future of the organization.

Pharmacy Times interviewed Rob LaHayne, CEO of TouchCare, on how communicating the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines to the public is an essential piece of the rollout.

Vaccine hesitancy is a main driver for lower than desired vaccination rates and recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as measles, in the United States.

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

New data from an unreviewed, preprint research article indicate first-dose immunization efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus 2019 vaccine improves by 51% 13-24 days post administration.

Pharmacy Times interviewed Rob LaHayne, CEO of TouchCare, on what proper screening and protection looks like for health care workers administering the COVID-19 vaccine looks like.

The letter said states where community pharmacists have taken a larger leadership role have seen a much faster distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable populations.

Pharmacy Times interviewed Randall A. Oyer, MD, president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers about the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on cancer clinical trials.

Pharmacy Times interviewed Rob LaHayne, CEO of TouchCare, on what can be done now to avoid complications while administering the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine.

The level of protection for the single-dose COVID-19 vaccine was 72% in the United States compared to 57% in South Africa at 28 days post-vaccination, suggesting lower efficacy against the emerging South African variant.

All the states that passed laws require flu vaccines to be offered to hospital employees.

As experts seek to minimize hospitalizations during flu season and a pandemic, reformulated dapsone could offer a cost-effective solution.

In a progress update on COVID-19 vaccine administration and testing in Walgreens pharmacies, speakers discussed the rollout and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination process in LTC facilities.

Pharmacy Times interviewed Rob LaHayne, CEO of TouchCare, on how pharmacies and other health care setting can keep their employees and patients safe as they administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition to stress and burnout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists face threats of physical violence and online doxxing.

Observational studies have suggested that vitamin D supplementation could lower the odds of developing respiratory infections, but randomized trials have had mixed results.

Additional randomized clinical trials are warranted to determine the mechanism between the 2 diseases.

Patients with HIV who were hospitalized with COVID-19 were found to have high proportions of HIV virologic control on antiretroviral therapy.

Sanofi has agreed to bottle and package at least 125 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 from Pfizer and BioNTech.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Brian Nightengale, president of Good Neighbor Pharmacy, on the role of independent pharmacies in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pfizer’s and Moderna’s receive Emergency Use Authorization in the United States from the FDA.

This year, pharmacists’ role will continue to evolve because of, or despite, the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has been a 25% increase in food insufficiency among Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study.

In addition to communicating about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, uses for online portals include requesting prescription refills, seeking advice on health concerns, and scheduling appointments.