COVID-19

Childhood immunization guidance in the US faces confusion as the AAP and CDC diverge on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, impacting parents and providers.

Among older adults with Medicare, researchers investigated national influenza vaccination patterns by race, education level, and rurality.

The approved vaccines include Novavax’s Nuvaxovid and Moderna’s Spikevax and mNexspike.

The approval covers Pfizer and BioNTech’s LP.8.1-adapted monovalent COVID-19 vaccine, which is also indicated for patients aged 5 to 64 with at least 1 underlying condition.

Researchers in Kenya explored vaccination behaviors among individuals of various socioeconomic or educational statuses.

The 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine containing the Omicron JN.1 lineage did not increase the risk of 29 adverse events of special interest.

New study data reveal the waning effectiveness of 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting the need for ongoing vaccinations and pharmacist involvement.

Researchers examined the factors attributed to self-reported resilience among diverse and community-dwelling adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers characterized trends in COVID-19 hospitalizations by race and ethnicity among children from March 2020 to September 2023.

Researchers determined the impact COVID-19 interventions had on Danish children’s incidence of RSV, influenza, and invasive pneumococcal disease.

ACIP also discusses COVID-19 epidemiology as well as safety and efficacy for the COVID-19 vaccines.

In a retrospective study of obesity-related mortality, researchers explored US death trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conflicting information and abrupt changes are likely to contribute to a lack of trust and confidence in health care, Lauren Angelo, PharmD, MBA, said.

The new approval is in line with recommendations that suggest booster vaccination for older adults and patients aged 12 to 64 with at least 1 or more underlying risk factors.

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine has been available in the US under emergency use authorization since July 2022.

However, patients should still be monitored for potential serious adverse effects, as investigators identified potential new concerns.

Conflicting study findings show various associations between asthma and COVID-19; further data are needed.

As pharmacists adapt to patient needs, pharmacists' mental wellness remains critical.

Pharmacists can help manage complications from long COVID-19, as no medications can treat it.

Community pharmacies have a clear role in public health, as they manage ongoing services and take on a more significant role as immunizers.

As information changed rapidly, pharmacists quickly adapted their strategies by leveraging social media for updates to patients.

Tom DePietro, PharmD, owner of DePietro's Pharmacy, highlights the deep community connections that enabled the pharmacy to respond effectively to the pandemic.

Jade Ranger, co-owner and pharmacist of the Prescription Shoppe, discusses how her pharmacy put patients first during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jade Ranger, PharmD, co-owner and pharmacist at the Prescription Shoppe, discussed administering vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jeffery Goad, PharmD, MPH, president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic 5 years later.

The most commonly reported symptoms of long COVID include neurological, muscular, respiratory, and psychological.

Ensitrelvir demonstrated a 67% relative risk reduction of developing symptomatic COVID-19 in household contact patients.

COVID-19 vaccination before a SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a 75% reduced likelihood of long COVID symptoms that impact daily functioning among patients between the ages of 5 and 17 years.

Researchers compared hospitalization and mortality outcomes of older adults with and without restricted access to nirmatrelvir-ritonavir.

The increased risk of symptoms only includes respiratory-related symptoms or brain fog.