Coronavirus News Roundup: Favipiravir as a Potential Treatment, Opportunities for Symptom Surveillance Apps
Here's a roundup of the latest coronavirus-related news.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has infected an estimated 7,547,702 individuals worldwide, and approximately 2 million Americans. Latest developments include the distribution of nearly 50,000 temporary pharmacist “passports,” new apps monitoring COVID-19 symptoms, and continued reports of impaired personal protective equipment (PPE) access.
Here’s a roundup of the latest coronavirus-related news:
NABP Issues Nearly 50,000 Temporary Licenses for Pharmacists, Techs
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) has issued nearly 50,000 “passports”, or temporary licenses, for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
NABP Passport allows those seeking temporary or emergency nonresident licensure to submit state-specific requests for an NABP Passport through their NABP e-Profile. NABP then conducts the necessary license verification and disciplinary history review at no cost to the individual or the boards of pharmacy.
New Apps Tap Into Unmet Need for COVID-19 Testing in the US
Syndromic surveillance apps may be key in providing solutions to limitations on current COVID-19 case projection data collection efforts.
COVID-19 has unleashed many unprecedented challenges for the United States. Among work-from-home measures, business restrictions, and mandated mask-wearing, the United States has also grappled with implementing the most effective ways to amass accurate COVID-19 infection projections.
Survey: Oncology Pharmacists Report Impaired Access to PPE, Certain Medications
Oncology pharmacists continue to face difficulties accessing PPE amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new survey findings published in the Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice.
Despite the ongoing pandemic and its strain on the health care system, patients with cancer still need access to crucial care. However, the insurgence of COVID-19 cases has resulted in depleted supplies of PPE used to safeguard health care workers.
Will Accelerated COVID-19 Development Fuel Public Distrust?
Though the COVID-19 pandemic has created intense need for treatment, rapid development of a vaccine could come at a cost.
An article published in JAMA warned that rushed vaccine development could lead to potential consequences in COVID-19 prevention efforts, as well as for public trust in global vaccination efforts.
Favipiravir, A Potential COVID-19 Treatment
Armand Balboni, MD, PhD, chief executive officer of Appili Therapeutics, discusses the potential for favipiravir, an antiviral medication, for treating COVID-19 in certain populations.
Virtual care takes center stage amid the pandemic.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists face an ongoing challenge with helping patients optimally manage chronic conditions.
Experts Examine the Many Factors of Pharmacist Burnout
“Are employers really stepping up to take care of their health providers? I think [that] is something that also probably needs to change.”
Professional burnout among pharmacists, already a growing concern in the United States, could be exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. The current pandemic strains pharmacy capacity and exposes persistent underlying problems, according to 3 experts on pharmacy burnout.
Remdesivir Treatment and Supply Amid COVID-19
Julie Ann Justo, PharmD, infectious diseases clinical pharmacist and assistant professor at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, discusses the treatment potential for remdesivir for SARS-CoV-2, as well as distribution strategies for the drug.
