FDA Authorizes COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Under Five Years Old
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized emergency use of the Moderna coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as six months old. The agency determined that the known and potential benefits of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the known and potential risks in the pediatric populations […]
Read More ›New Guide Helps Pharmacists Navigate Social Determinants of Health
To help pharmacists navigate certain social determinants of health (SDOH) that patients may face, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) created a resource guide that outlines real-world services that address these issues affecting patients’ abilities to access or manage their medications. Examples of SDOH affecting patients during pharmacy encounters may include: cost of medications; cultural or […]
Read More ›New Medicaid Data Available to Help Target Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Efforts
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released their second publication of Medicaid data to help policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders better target substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment efforts. The publication, the Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) based Medicaid Substance Use Disorder Data Book, includes 2018 data on Medicaid beneficiaries treated for […]
Read More ›ISMP: Respond to consumers’ error concerns with empathy and honesty
This column was prepared by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, an ECRI affiliate. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) receives frequent reports of medication errors directly from patients. While patients are understandably concerned about errors, the patients who report to us are usually more upset about the response (or lack of) from the […]
Read More ›PCSC Warns of Additional Product Ordering and Recall Fraud Incidents
The information published in this column was provided by the Healthcare Distribution Alliance Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition. Healthcare Distribution Alliance Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition (PCSC) is warning the pharmacy industry of several product ordering/recall fraud incidents, several of which have resulted in losses. To help licensees be aware of current trends, PCSC notes the following: Several […]
Read More ›First Four Bulk Drug Substances Added to 503B Bulks List
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added the first four bulk drug substances to the 503B Bulks List to provide Americans access to compounded medicines when they cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug. The first four added drug substances for topical use that may be used for compounding by outsourcing facilities include: diphenylcyclopropenone, glycolic […]
Read More ›FDA Approves Update to iPLEDGE REMS Program, Urges Manufacturer Group to Solve Website Issues
FDA has approved an update to the iPLEDGE Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. The centralized system helps inform pharmacies, prescribers, and patients about any serious risks associated with isotretinoin to prevent fetal exposure. Since the system changes were implemented in mid-December 2021, some users have experienced problems with the updated website, including patients […]
Read More ›HHS Releases Treatment-Focused Overdose Prevention Strategy
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the release of their new treatment-focused Overdose Prevention Strategy in response to the rising trends in drug overdoses. The Overdose Prevention Strategy is designed to increase access to care and services for individuals who use substances that put them at risk for overdoses, and […]
Read More ›Beware of Three Unique Phishing Scams Impacting Pharmacy
The information published in this column was provided by the Healthcare Distribution Alliance Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition There are three types of phishing scams making the rounds within the pharmacy and pharmaceutical industries, according to Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition (PCSC). Below are brief summaries of the three types of phishing schemes […]
Read More ›ISMP Provides Safe Practice Recommendations to Prevent COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Mix-Ups
This column was prepared by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), an ECRI affiliate. Multiple mix-ups between the pediatric formulation (ages five through 11 years; orange cap and label border) and the formulation for individuals 12 years old or older of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine have been reported to the Institute […]
Read More ›