Content about Chickenpox

December 21, 2012
FDA approves biotech drug for reducing symptoms of severe chickenpox infection

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for reducing the severity of chickenpox symptoms, the agency said.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for reducing the severity of chickenpox symptoms, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of Cangene Corp.'s Varizig (varicella zoster immune globulin [human]) for varicella zoster, the virus that causes chickenpox. The FDA said Varizig was the only FDA-approved immune globulin for the virus after exposure.

September 26, 2012
Depomed sues FDA over drug for shingles-related pain

A drug maker is suing the Food and Drug Administration to force the agency to give a special designation to one of its drugs.

MENLO PARK, Calif. — A drug maker is suing the Food and Drug Administration to force the agency to give a special designation to one of its drugs.

Depomed announced that it had filed suit against the FDA in federal district court for the District of Columbia seeking an order that would require the agency to grant the drug Gralise (gabapentin) orphan drug exclusivity for the management of post-herpetic neuralgia. The disease, also known as PHN, is a condition causing prolonged pain in people who have had shingles, a complication of chickenpox.

July 26, 2011
Study: Deaths related to chickenpox-causing virus decrease, thanks to vaccine

Chickenpox is the scourge of many a schoolchild and usually a convenient, if itchy and feverish, reason to stay home for several days, but it also has been fatal for many who catch it — until recently.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. — Chickenpox is the scourge of many a schoolchild and usually a convenient, if itchy and feverish, reason to stay home for several days, but it also has been fatal for many who catch it — until recently.

According to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics, since a vaccine for varicella, the virus that causes chickenpox, became available in 1995, deaths from the virus have been virtually eliminated.

April 25, 2011
Retailers take shots at vaccinations

The pharmacist isn’t just someone in a white coat who hands out bottles of pills anymore. The role of pharmacists has been changing and expanding dramatically over the last several years.

Now, pharmacists in all 50 states can offer a service previously reserved for doctors and nurses: 
administering vaccinations. Retail pharmacies across the country are racing to join the immunization trend, with Weis Markets recently announcing that it would spend the year making sure all its pharmacists were trained to give vaccinations. 


March 29, 2011
Rite Aid gears up to vaccinate patients ages 50 years, older for shingles

A decision by the Food and Drug Administration to lower the age at which patients can receive a vaccine for shingles opens the door for pharmacists to administer it to more patients.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — A decision by the Food and Drug Administration to lower the age at which patients can receive a vaccine for shingles opens the door for pharmacists to administer it to more patients.

Rite Aid said Tuesday that pharmacists at more than 2,100 of its stores now could vaccinate patients ages 50 years and older with Merck’s Zostavax (zoster vaccine live) thanks to the FDA’s approval of the vaccination for patients in that age group. Previously, it was only approved for patients ages 60 years and older.

March 25, 2011
Zostavax now approved for patients ages 50 years and older

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a vaccine for shingles in older patients.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a vaccine for shingles in older patients.

The agency said Thursday that it had approved Merck’s Zostavax (zoster vaccine live) vaccine in patients ages 50 to 59 years. The vaccine already is approved for those ages 60 years and older.

Shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox, affects about 200,000 people in the United States ages 50 to 59 years each year.

February 14, 2011
Walgreens expands access to shingles vaccine

With shingles vaccines widely reported to be in short supply from some healthcare providers, Walgreens on Monday announced the expansion of its availability of Zostavax — a one-time vaccine that can reduce the risk of shingles in individuals ages 60 years and older — and now is offering shingles vaccinations daily at more than 2,000 Walgreens stores and Take Care Clinics.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — With shingles vaccines widely reported to be in short supply from some healthcare providers, Walgreens on Monday announced the expansion of its availability of Zostavax — a one-time vaccine that can reduce the risk of shingles in individuals ages 60 years and older — and now is offering shingles vaccinations daily at more than 2,000 Walgreens stores and Take Care Clinics.

January 12, 2010
Rite Aid commences national shingles vaccination, education campaign

Rite Aid on Wednesday announced the launch of a national shingles vaccination and education campaign...