The CDC estimates that 63.9% of US adults have received at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine as of this article’s press time. Keeping up with pandemic news is more important than ever, so check back to 

 to stay informed on the latest coronavirus-related news and research.

Getting Started With Medication Management Services

Part 1 of this 3-part series examines how to strategically integrate this alternative revenue source into the pharmacy.

 is now available on DrugTopics.com. In this issue, you’ll find great insights into the latest pharmacy trends in independent community practice, diabetes, respiratory and autoimmune diseases, and more.

Medical World News: Part 2 - Leverage Technology to Maximize COVID-19 Vaccinations, Boost Clinical Services and Transform Pharmacy Practice

 Jason Ausili, PharmD, chief clinical officer at FDS, discusses how independent community pharmacies can leverage technology to save time and reinvest in clinical services now and beyond the pandemic.

On Demand: The Essential Guide to Wholesaler Purchase Agreements

In this world of shrinking margins, the cost of goods should be a concern at the top of every independent pharmacist’s list. Tune in to this recent 

 podcast episode to learn what you truly need to understand about your purchasing agreement and the value of contract flexibility.

In Case You Missed It: Migraine Care: Prevention, Treatment, and Medication Management

Migraines can be disabling for those affected, but various pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies are available.

Articles

Here’s a preview of the featured content to watch for this week on Drug Topics®.

This Week on Drug Topics: June 14 to June 18

, brought to you by Total Pharmacy® and Omega Pharmacy Group, dives into how to navigate the business of independent pharmacy and get ahead of key policy changes.

For independent community pharmacists, it’s important to keep pace with policy changes and cultural shifts. Pharmacists who want to know how to navigate the business and get ahead of legislation that could shake up their day-to-day operations should tune in to a recent episode of 

®, brought to you by Total Pharmacy® and New Jersey–based Omega Pharmacy Group.

In this episode, Jonathan Kurtz, chief executive officer of Omega Pharmacy Group, and Anthony Reznik, director of government and public affairs with Omega Pharmacy Group, walk us through industry trends such as Medicaid Fee-For-Service, COVID-19 vaccination, and direct and indirect remuneration fees, as well as their own efforts to influence legislation on some of these issues.

Podcasts

This special Over the Counter episode, brought to you by Total Pharmacy® and Omega Pharmacy Group, dives into how to navigate the business of independent pharmacy and get ahead of key policy changes. 

Keep Up With Policy Changes Affecting Independent Pharmacy

Moderna has filed for FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) for use of its COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents aged 12 through 17, the company announced on Thursday.

If granted authorization for this use, Moderna’s vaccine mRNA-1273 will be the second COVID-19 vaccine authorized for adolescents. In May, the FDA expanded the EUA for 

 to include individuals aged 12 to 15 years.

Moderna previously announced positive results from its phase 2/3 TeenCOVE study, which evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of mRNA-1273 in adolescents. The study, which involved 3732 adolescents, showed no cases of COVID-19 in participants who received 2 doses of the vaccine. Vaccine efficacy was observed to be 100% when using the same case definition as in the phase 3 COVE study in adults, according to Moderna. The results also showed vaccine efficacy of 93% in seronegative participants starting 14 days after the first dose.

The vaccine safety profile was similar to what was seen with adults, with no major safety concerns identified. Most adverse effects (AE) were mild or moderate in severity. The most common local AE was pain at the injection site. After the second dose, the most common systemic AEs were fatigue, chills, myalgia, and headache.

“We are encouraged that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was highly effective at preventing COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection in adolescents,” said Stéphane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna. “We have already filed for authorization with Health Canada and the European Medicines Agency and we will file with regulatory agencies around the world for this important younger age population. We remain committed to helping to end the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Moderna also recently announced it has initiated the rolling submission process for the 

 for mRNA-1273 for full approval of the vaccine in adults.

1. Moderna Files for Emergency Use Authorization for its COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescents in the United States. News release. Moderna; June 10, 2021. Accessed June 11, 2021. 

https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-files-emergency-use-authorization-its-covid-19-vaccine

Moderna has filed for FDA emergency use authorization for use of its COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents aged 12 through 17.

Moderna Files for EUA for Use of COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescents

With all Americans 12 years and older able to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and the 

CDC releasing recent changes to guidelines

 for fully vaccinated individuals, it’s more important than ever to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 headlines.

Here’s a roundup of the latest coronavirus-related news.

Part 1: Leverage Technology to Maximize COVID-19 Vaccinations, Boost Clinical Services, and Transform Pharmacy Practice

Jason Ausili, PharmD, highlights President Biden's expectations for community pharmacies amid the COVID-19 vaccination effort.

FDA Adjusts EUA for COVID-19 Antibody Treatment

The antibody combination COVID-19 treatment is the only one of its kind available in the United States.

How Social Distancing Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Migraine Patients

Migraine sufferers reported worsened symptoms during social distancing, which may be attributed to reduced sleep quality and physical activity.

ISV Congress Offers Vaccine Updates And Information on Hypersensitivity

The last meeting of the COVID-19 vaccine congress from the International Society for Vaccines (ISV) provided information on the hypersensitivity events tied to mRNA vaccines as well as the most recent information on the Janssen and Novavax vaccines.

Becerra Warns Against Charging Patients for COVID-19 Vaccination

In a letter to physicians and insurers, the HHS head reminds that patients can’t be charged for the vaccine.

Coronavirus News Roundup: FDA Adjusts EUA for Antibody Treatment 

Keith Loria is a contributing writer to Medical Economics.

Although pharmacists understand that all of a patient’s medical information is confidential and access to that information is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996, some still have challenges staying 100% compliant. That is why independent pharmacy owners should establish a compliance checklist and ensure their staff does annual HIPPA training.

“Pharmacy staff need to be aware of who they are providing health information to over the phone, in person, or via mail,” said Chirag Patel, PharmD, MBA, chief operating officer and brand ambassador for Carolina Pharmacy Group in Charlotte, North Carolina “The staff also need to ensure all health information at the pharmacy—prescription vials, labels, print outs, handouts, etc—is properly disposed of. That disposal source is most often an information security company that disposes of personal health information via shred boxes.”

Arielle T. Miliambro, Esq, a partner at Pine Brook, New Jersey-based health care law firm Frier Levitt, outlined the components of HIPAA:

The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information.

The HIPAA Security Rule sets standards for the security of electronic protected health information (PHI).

The HIPAA Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities and business associates to provide notification following a breach of unsecured PHI.

Each HIPPA rule may have different requirements and exceptions. Miliambro explained that the Privacy Rule contains certain limited exceptions for which PHI may be disclosed without authorization, such as to coordinate care among health care providers or to obtain reimbursement from a patient’s health insurer or payer.

What independent pharmacists need to know. 

A Guide to HIPAA Compliance in the Pharmacy

The FDA has approved the pneumococcal 20-valent conjugate vaccine (Prevnar 20; Pfizer) for use in adults 18 years and older.

The vaccine is indicated to prevent invasive disease and pneumonia caused by 20 

 serotypes, including 7 responsible for 40% of pneumococcal disease cases and deaths in the United States, according to Pfizer.

The pneumococcal 20-valent conjugate vaccine includes capsular polysaccharide conjugates for the 13 serotypes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F) already included in the pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine [Diphtheria CRM

 Protein]). Additionally, the vaccine contains capsular polysaccharide conjugates for 7 other serotypes (8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 22F, 33F).

This approval is based on results from the clinical trial program evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in more than 6000 adults. Participants included those aged 65 and older, vaccine-naïve adults, and adults with prior pneumococcal vaccination.

“Adult vaccinations play a pivotal role in helping protect our health and wellness, especially as we age and our immune systems begin to naturally weaken,” Jane Barratt, PhD, secretary general, International Federation on Ageing, said in a statement. “We are delighted with today’s approval as it addresses a critical need to continually expand coverage to meet the changing burden of disease. We encourage all adults to speak with their health care professionals about vaccinations.”

In October, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet to discuss and update recommendations on the safe and appropriate use of pneumococcal vaccines in adults.

1. U.S. FDA Approves Prevnar 20™, Pfizer’s Pneumococcal 20-Valent Conjugate Vaccine for Adults Ages 18 Years or Older. News release. Pfizer; June 8, 2021. Accessed June 9, 2021. 

https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/us-fda-approves-prevnar-20tm-pfizers-pneumococcal-20-valent

The vaccine is indicated to prevent invasive disease and pneumonia caused by 20 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.

FDA Approves Pneumococcal 20-Valent Conjugate Vaccine for Adults

Jason Ausili, PharmD Interview, Part 1

 First, Jason, can you give us your background in pharmacy and a bit about FDS and your role there as well?

 Absolutely. Thanks for asking Gabrielle. I've been with FDS – I’ll start at the top and then work my way backwards. I think that'll work a little better. I've been with FDS now for about, almost 5 years.

I started off in the product management world. And now I'm the chief clinical officer, where I oversee our clinical vision. And that's been really exciting during the pandemic, as we're helping pharmacists mobilize, not only as COVID-19 testers and vaccinators, but providing more advanced clinical services to their communities.

I started off in community pharmacy, I worked for a retail chain through school. And then right out of school, I got the opportunity to move to the chain headquarters, where I got to work on technology projects, so I got my feet wet in technology, as you could say. One thing led to the next, I got involved in health care quality, and focusing on star ratings and patient outcomes, which opened up a whole new world in my in my career. And that led to my next step, where I worked for a trade association in the Washington DC area that represents retail pharmacies from a trade perspective. I missed the technology world after working in the trade association space for a couple years, so that led me back to FDS. I get to, again, focus on how to leverage technology to solve business and clinical problems and help advance pharmacists as the community care givers that they are.

 Tell us about what the latest updates have been on the COVID vaccination front, particularly President Biden's plans for community pharmacies.

 Yeah, obviously the information is dynamically changing. And we've all been kind of riding the COVID-19 roller coaster for the past 6 months now.

A lot of the information has removed barriers for pharmacy, which has been amazing. Additionally, the HHS authorizations that opened up COVID-19 vaccines to pharmacist and their pharmacy staff, the childhood vaccine expansion.

And now recently, President Biden's approach at expanding, getting to the goal of at least 1 shot in the population - at least the adult population - in 70% of the population by July 4. So that's pretty amazing goal considering we’re at - I just checked today, the CDC site said 60% of the adult population has been has gotten at least one shot, so we've got a ways to go.

Also, Biden mentioned, well, how are you going to get to that number? And really, that shifts more to the state and local areas in which pharmacies, especially community pharmacies, are ideally positioned to help their communities. There's a good portion of the population that still needs a shot. Maybe some folks are definitely not going to get it, whereas others are still waiting to see. But there's no better resource in the community pharmacists to educate and advocate for COVID-19 vaccinations.

 And you mentioned that pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address some of those more high-risk communities. Can you tell us a little bit more on that and how, especially with certain ethnic minorities, etc.?

 Yes sure. I’m going to refer, Gabrielle, to the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Digest, which listed 77% of independents are in areas of population less than 50,000.

Also, they go on to say 21% of US zip codes have only a community pharmacy within their reach to get a vaccine. So that really shows that our independent community pharmacies are likely the best place to get a vaccine in those medically underserved and rural populations.

So obviously, so many pharmacies across the country have done an amazing job vaccinating their communities up to this point. They really are our heroes. And I've never been prouder of the profession and being a pharmacist, myself, than really any other time in history.

This does not come without challenges, though. COVID-19 has put community pharmacies in the spotlight - a phenomenal position to highlight what they can bring to their communities.

But as testing ramped up, it quickly evolved into one of the most massive vaccination efforts that our nation has ever seen, at least in most of our lifetimes. So that does not come without challenges. And we've been keeping a pulse and talking regularly with our community pharmacists on what barriers they are running into and how can we help leverage technology to get them over those barriers.

For part 2 of this interview, check back to our 

Expert Interviews

Jason Ausili, PharmD, highlights President Biden's expectations for community pharmacies amid the COVID-19 vaccination effort. 

Twelve percent of the US population experiences migraine, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. Migraine is the third most prevalent illness globally, and it affects 1 out of 4 US households. Moreover, migraine can be disabling, with 90% of those affected worldwide unable to work or function normally during a migraine attack.

Although migraine is sometimes thought of as just a headache, a migraine attack can involve 4 phases of various symptoms. Not every stage is present in every migraine. Pharmacists can counsel patients to keep track of their migraines with a headache journal or app because neurologists and headache specialists may be able to pinpoint patterns and detect a migraine attack before it arrives.

A migraine attack can manifest with any of the 4 phases:

: This is a “preheadache” and can last several hours to several days. Symptoms include mood changes (eg, depression, irritability), sensitivity to light and sound, insomnia or fatigue, and stomach problems (eg, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). Unique symptoms include yawning, food cravings, and increased urination.

: This phase can last from 5 to 60 minutes. Symptoms include vision disturbances, such as blurry vision or vision loss, and/or seeing patterns or flashing or shimmering lights.

: This phase can last from 4 to 72 hours. The hallmark symptom is pain, often on one side or one part of the head. Other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and sensitivity to light and sound may occur.

 This “hangover” phase usually lasts 24 to 48 hours. Symptoms may include fatigue, body pain, dizziness, and mood changes.

One way to remember migraine symptoms is with the acronym POUND

 1-day duration of severe untreated attacks

It is prudent to refer patients who have frequent headaches, headaches that are increasing in severity or frequency, or headaches that interfere with functioning to a headache specialist for evaluation and a treatment plan, including preventive and acute treatment.

If the patient experiences a new or unusual symptom, such as a headache that occurs within a few seconds or the worst headache they’ve ever had, refer the patient to the emergency department. Other symptoms that require emergency treatment include pain for more than 72 hours, fever, weakness, vision loss or changes, and confusion or if the patient is pregnant, is immunocompromised, or has a severe medical condition like liver or kidney disease.

Nonpharmacological prevention of migraine

Some nonpharmacological migraine prevention tips for patients include

: Keep detailed information in a headache diary or app.

: Avoid known triggers such as odors, smoke, alcohol, stress, and food triggers.

: Keep a regular sleep schedule by waking up and going to bed at the same times every day, including weekends.

: Eat regular, healthy meals and limit sugar. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Limit alcohol and caffeine. Avoid food triggers such as aged cheeses, chocolate, MSG, and cured meats.

: Try to get moderate, regular exercise 3 to 5 times weekly.

: Lower stress with relaxation, yoga, or stress management.

Patients who have 4 or more migraine attacks, 8 or more migraine days per month, or other qualifying factors may need preventive treatment.

 Many options are available, and some of the more common preventive treatment medications include the following

Counsel patients on adverse effects (AEs) such as fatigue, depression, sexual problems, decreased heart rate, and low blood pressure.

Anticonvulsants (divalproex or topiramate)

Divalproex: Counsel on nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and lab monitoring due to possibility of liver or pancreas problems.

Topiramate: Counsel on paresthesia, stomach pain, fatigue, memory problems, kidney stones, nausea, vomiting, altered taste, weight loss, eye pain, and lab monitoring due to possibility of liver problems and metabolic acidosis.

Antidepressants (such as amitriptyline or venlafaxine)

Counsel patients on the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and the importance of tapering when discontinuing medication.

Amitriptyline: Counsel on anticholinergic AEs such as dry mouth, blurry vision, constipation, urinary retention, and weight gain.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors are a newer class of drugs that prevent migraine by targeting CGRP, which is found in higher levels during a migraine attack. CGRP inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies that block the effects of CGRP and are the first class of medications specifically designed to prevent migraine.

CGRP inhibitors approved by the FDA for the prevention of migraine are as follows

Erenumab-aooe (Aimovig; Amgen): 70 to 140 mg injected subcutaneously once monthly

Fremanezumab-vfrm (Ajovy; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd): 225 mg injected subcutaneously once monthly or 675 mg injected every 3 months (as 3 consecutive injections of 225 mg each)

Galcanezumab-gnlm (Emgality; Eli Lilly and Company): 240 mg (2 consecutive doses of 120 mg) injected subcutaneously as a loading dose, then 120 mg once monthly

Eptinezumab-jjmr (Vyepti; Lundbeck Seattle BioPharmaceuticals, Inc): 100 mg or 300 mg by intravenous infusion every 3 months

Common AEs associated with CGRP inhibitors include injection-site reactions (pain, redness, itching) and hypersensitivity reactions.

 Other AEs of erenumab-aooe include constipation (possibly with complications including hospitalization) and increased blood pressure.

 Eptinezumab-jjmr may also cause nasopharyngitis.

Many options are available for migraine treatment. Product selection may be based on a variety of factors, including symptoms, medical history, other medications, patient preference for specific formulation(s), AEs, and cost or insurance considerations (

Pharmacists can provide counseling on the following popular first-line medications for migraine treatment.

For mild to moderate migraine attacks, acetaminophen and oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, or naproxen may be used. Although acetaminophen is less effective than NSAIDs for migraine, it has fewer AEs. The combination in acetaminophen/aspirin/caffeine (Excedrin; Novartis) is also a first-line option.

Counseling can include dosage, limitations, and the importance of avoiding alcohol. For NSAIDs and acetaminophen/aspirin/caffeine, also counsel patients on the risk of potential gastrointestinal and cardiovascular effects.

Triptans are effective as a first-line treatment for moderate to severe migraine. Triptans approved by the FDA for the treatment of migraine include the following14:

Almotriptan (Axert; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd)

Triptans have slight differences that may cause patients to respond to certain triptans but not others. Triptans are most effective when taken early in a migraine attack and are generally well tolerated. Most triptans, with the exception of almotriptan and frovatriptan, can cause fatigue, dizziness, chest pain, and nausea.

Additional Considerations for Migraine Treatment

Other new drugs have entered the market for migraine prevention and/or treatment.

; Biohaven) is an orally disintegrating tablet indicated for both the treatment and prevention of migraine. The main AEs are nausea and abdominal pain.


; Allergan) is indicated for acute treatment of migraine. The most common AEs are nausea and somnolence.

; Eli Lilly and Company) is indicated for acute treatment of migraine. The most common AEs are dizziness, fatigue, paresthesia, and sedation.

An important consideration when talking with patients is the possibility of medication-overuse headache, also known as a rebound headache—part of a vicious cycle of having headaches and taking more and more medication to relieve them, which results in near-daily or daily headaches.

Patients who experience headaches every day, or almost every day, especially when the pain begins upon awakening, may be experiencing a medication-overuse headache. Refer the patient to a headache specialist, who can help the patient establish a new treatment plan that includes stopping acute medications, starting preventive treatment, and slowly reintroducing a limited amount of acute medicines as needed.

An essential consideration in either preventive or acute treatment is the presence of drug interactions. Pharmacists can help patients by checking for drug interactions and being especially aware of the possibility of serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening condition that is more likely to occur with triptans and other medications that increase serotonin levels.



Migraine facts. Migraine Research Foundation. Accessed April 12, 2021. 

https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-facts/

The timeline of a migraine attack. American Migraine Foundation. January 18, 2018. Accessed April 12, 2021. 

https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/timeline-migraine-attack/

When headaches are more than a pain. Harvard Health Publishing. March 2019. Accessed April 15, 2021. 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/when-headaches-are-more-than-a-pain

Know your headaches. Cedars-Sinai blog. February 8, 2018. Accessed April 12, 2021. 

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/know-your-headaches.html

When to go to the emergency room for a headache or migraine. American Migraine Foundation. February 13, 2017. Accessed April 12, 2021. 

https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/when-to-go-to-the-er-for-headache-migraine/

Trigger avoidance information. American Headache Society. Accessed April 12, 2021. 

https://americanheadachesociety.org/trigger-avoidance-information/

Ha H, Gonzalez A. Migraine headache prophylaxis. 

 2019;99(1):17-24. Accessed April 27, 2021. 

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p17.html

Mohanty D, Lippmann S. CGRP inhibitors for migraine. 

. 2020;17(4-6):39-40. Accessed April 27, 2021. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7413335/

New drug class employs novel mechanism for migraine treatment and prevention. FDA. Updated January 29, 2019. Accessed April 14, 2021.

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/new-drug-class-employs-novel-mechanism-migraine-treatment-and-prevention

Aimovig- erenumab-aooe injection. DailyMed. Updated February 11, 2021. Accessed April 14, 2021. 

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=b998ed05-94b0-47fd-b28f-cddd1e128fd8

Ajovy- fremanezumab-vfrm injection. DailyMed. Updated October 27, 2020. Accessed April 14, 2021. 

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=98e344ea-5916-4947-b6f2-4a76ccc04b6b

Emgality- galcanezumab-gnlm injection, solution. DailyMed. Updated September 28, 2020. Accessed April 14, 2021.

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=33a147be-233a-40e8-a55e-e40936e28db0

Vyepti- eptinezumab-jjmr injection. DailyMed. Updated February 21, 2020. Accessed April 14, 2021. 

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=79065861-6aa5-4d1f-829f-3a6471286b36

Mayans L, Walling A. Acute migraine headache: treatment strategies. 

. 2018;97(4):243-251. Accessed April 27, 2021. 

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0215/p243.html

Ghlichloo I, Gerriets V. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In: 

StatPearls Publishing; 2021. Accessed April 14, 2021. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547742/

Medication overuse headaches. Cleveland Clinic. Updated December 18, 2020. Accessed April 14, 2021.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6170-medication-overuse-headaches

Migraine Care: Prevention, Treatment, and Medication Management 

The CDC estimates that 63.7% of US adults have received at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine as of this article’s press time. Keeping up with pandemic news is more important than ever, so check back to 

Want to understand more about cannabidiol (CBD) and how it works? How do you carry CBD products safely and legally without posing a risk to your business?

Watch the exclusive interview with Jason Mitchell

, ND, board-certified naturopathic doctor, co-founder and CEO of HempFusion Wellness Inc discusses how to navigate the CBD industry.

Total Pharmacy Solutions Summit, A Focus on Patient Access and Empowerment

Looking for actionable business solutions to drive measurable change in community pharmacy?

®, is hosting an exclusive virtual event on Saturday, June 19, 2021, from 9 AM-3 PM EST, focused on improving patient access and empowerment.

 for the full-day event and the opportunity to earn up to 1.75 live continuing education (CE) credits.

Medical World News: Leverage Technology to Maximize COVID-19 Vaccinations, Boost Clinical Services and Transform Pharmacy Practice

 Jason will be discussing President Biden’s recent announcement of utilizing community pharmacists to reach his goal of helping 70% of Americans get at least 1 vaccine by July 4, as well as how independent community pharmacies can leverage technology to save time and reinvest in clinical services now and beyond the pandemic.

On Demand: Helping Retail and Specialty Pharmacies Use the Right Analytics to Unlock Value Beyond Prescription Reimbursements

Pharmacies are a trusted healthcare destination in their communities. But shrinking reimbursements continue to hinder growth and stretch resources. This on-demand 

 can use the power of data to drive sustainable growth.

In Case You Missed It: Survey Finds Majority of Pharmacists Are Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Most pharmacists who participated in the survey also said they were comfortable addressing vaccine hesitancy with their patients.

This Week on Drug Topics: June 7 to June 11

Frieda Wiley, PharmD, BCGP, is a writer and pharmacist. 

Diversity and inclusion remain a hot topic, but the embers that continue burning into the American conscience far transcend race and ethnicity. Like minority communities, the LGBTQ+ community also wrestles with its own struggles as another medically underserved population smoldering under the ashes, and pharmacists and other health care professionals who serve the LGBTQ+ community are working to establish methods to address these patients’ needs better.

“Historically, the barriers to care for LGBTQ+ individuals are complex and encompass many determinants,” said Tam Phan, PharmD, AAHIVP, assistant professor of clinical pharmacy and clinical pharmacist at the Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic at the USC School of Pharmacy in Los Angeles, California.

The underlying barriers hindering access to health care in the LGBTQ+ community are numerous. Discriminatory practices such as patients having been refused care simply because they are LGBTQ+ and individuals lacking access to affordable health care due to uninsured status (as a result of family rejection, unemployment, and requiring services not covered by insurance) are a few examples.

The number of individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ is on the rise, having increased from 3.5% in 2012 to an estimated 4.5% in 2017 in the United States, with millennials (defined here as individuals born between 1980 and 1999) as contributing to the majority of the uptick, according to Gallup.

Not only do these statistics indicate a growing number of those who identify as LGBTQ+, but they also highlight an opportunity for health care professionals to ensure the provision of inclusive services for this patient population. Pharmacists play an important role in the health care system and can work to address the health disparities that exist for their LGBTQ+ patients.

Addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ patients requires insight, innovation, and introspection.

New Data Show Combination Antibody Treatment Reduces Risk of Death in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

New Nonstimulant Medication Is Approved for ADHD in Children

Social Media Incites the COVID-19 Misinformation Epidemic

Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates 90% Overall Efficacy

Pharmacists’ Public Health Role Grows as Birth Control Prescribing Authority Expands