Shingles

Top news of the week from Pharmacy Times.

The FDA has approved mepolizumab for the treatment of hypereosinophilic syndrome.

The FDA has approved tofacitinib for the treatment of children and adolescents 2 years and older with active polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Though more research is needed, reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus may be caused by a decrease in absolute lymphocytes caused by COVID-19.

In a comprehensive systematic review that assessed risk factors for HZ infection, researchers found that immunosuppression through HIV/AIDS or malignancy places individuals at a significant risk.

Despite some challenges, these programs increase rates and follow-up doses and improve patient communication.

Room for improvement remains, based on 3 factors identified by WHO: complacency, confidence, and convenience.

Pharmacists have become widely accepted as immunization advocates, educators, and administrators, and an increasing proportion of influenza vaccines are being administered in community pharmacies nationwide.

Counseling pearls and considerations for the shingles vaccine, such as navigating insurance coverage, managing adverse events, and handling a missed dose in the series, are discussed.

Study findings could lead to new treatments and vaccines for other herpesviruses, as well as HIV, coronaviruses, and other conditions, all of which rely on the same protein.

At the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' June 2020 meeting, the agenda included discussions of the meningococcal vaccine, influenza vaccine, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19).

The COVID-19 pandemic serves as an important reminder of basic recommendations for ensuring health and wellness and protecting oneself against communicable disease transmission.

Researchers used 2 pairs of genetic scissors to remove latent herpes simplex virus 1, an approach they say should move toward clinical trials.

A study showed that pharmacists in the state of Wisconsin are most likely to administer zoster and influenza vaccines to customers.

A new treatment that targets the physical properties of the herpes virus, not just the virus proteins, shows promise.

According to researchers at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea, patients who have left their shingles symptoms untreated have an increased risk of dementia.

In a recent study, researchers found that Zoster Vaccine Live, a type of shingles vaccine, may prevent stroke in some older adults.

Although shingles can affect any age group, risks increase with age.

Vitamin C and zinc are among the adjuvant treatments being evaluated for patients with COVID-19 due to their various immune-enhancing properties and possible antiviral effects.

Giant Food has announced that all vaccinations recommended by the ACIP are once again available at its 153 in-store pharmacies across Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.

People have many reasons for wanting to become a pharmacist, ranging from personal encounters with pharmacists and witnessing experiences of friends and family members to stories they have read online about the profession.

In a study, polymerase chain reaction–confirmed second episodes of herpes zoster occurred in 2 of 660 patients receiving a placebo and 1 of 321 patients receiving ZVL.

Two shingles vaccines are licensed and recommended in the United States.

The investigators identified patients with a first-ever diagnosis of zoster who also had a child in the household with a varicella record.

Rates of some vaccinations are low in these patients, but pharmacists can play a key role in adherence.

Immunization needs for patients aged 19 to 64 years and afflicted with chronic conditions are often overlooked, and necessitate more attention and resources. Pharmacies traditionally do not focus on this patient population; instead often choosing to focus primarily on the population 65 years and over. However, engaging with patients in the 19- to 64-year-old group could go a long way in helping to fill the current immunization void in this population.

The study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a live, attenuated zoster vaccine patients receiving tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapies for various indications.

Community pharmacies that provide immunization services have proven their success time and again, but they still face roadblocks. Many state laws and regulations still do not allow pharmacies to take full responsibility for vaccinations, and states regulate immunization services at pharmacies in different ways.

Life-saving vaccines have had a profound impact in this country and worldwide. According to the CDC, from 2006 to 2017, almost 3.5 billion doses of vaccines were distributed in the United States.

The goal of the Healthy People initiative is to “provide science-based, 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans.”