Content about Pandemics

December 13, 2011

The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced that the first U.S. facility to use a faster and more flexible technology to make influenza vaccine was dedicated as part of an initiative that could provide vaccine supplies sooner in an influenza pandemic.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced that the first U.S. facility to use a faster and more flexible technology to make influenza vaccine was dedicated as part of an initiative that could provide vaccine supplies sooner in an influenza pandemic.

October 14, 2011

There are two crucial points to come out of the Walgreens Flu Impact Report. First is that Walgreens even has a Flu Impact Report. That's reflective of just how fast retail pharmacy is becoming the place to go for a convenient-and-affordable influenza inoculation. Second is the correlation between flu season and holiday travel that includes Thanksgiving and the December season of gift-giving events. Because it doesn't matter where over the hill toward grandmother's house you go, there will be a Walgreens within 3 miles of where you'll be, so your flu shot is covered.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — There are two crucial points to come out of the Walgreens Flu Impact Report. First is that Walgreens even has a Flu Impact Report. That's reflective of just how fast retail pharmacy is becoming the place to go for a convenient-and-affordable influenza inoculation. Second is the correlation between flu season and holiday travel that includes Thanksgiving and the December season of gift-giving events.

September 28, 2011

Sanofi Pasteur on Wednesday launched an awareness campaign to inform Florida residents ages 65 years and older about the importance of influenza protection and the key role vaccination plays in helping to improve the body's immune response against the virus.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Sanofi Pasteur on Wednesday launched an awareness campaign to inform Florida residents ages 65 years and older about the importance of influenza protection and the key role vaccination plays in helping to improve the body's immune response against the virus.

Adults 65 years of age and older typically are the hardest hit by influenza. This new program, called Influenza Immunization for You, urges older adults to talk to their healthcare provider about vaccine options. Florida Hospital Medical Group is spearheading the initiative in the region.

September 16, 2011

New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 115 people ages 18 years and younger died from influenza-related causes between September 2010 and August 2011.

ATLANTA — New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 115 people ages 18 years and younger died from influenza-related causes between September 2010 and August 2011.

Despite the agency issuing a recommendation for vaccination of all children ages 6 months and older back in 2008, only 23% of the 74 children older than 6 months of age with a known vaccination history had received their flu vaccine last season.

June 22, 2011

Walgreens has teamed with Greater Than AIDS, a national campaign in response to HIV/AIDS in the United States, to distribute informational resources and specialized HIV-related services at more than 300 Walgreens pharmacies in heavily affected communities, the Kaiser Family Foundation announced Tuesday.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has teamed with Greater Than AIDS, a national campaign in response to HIV/AIDS in the United States, to distribute informational resources and specialized HIV-related services at more than 300 Walgreens pharmacies in heavily affected communities, the Kaiser Family Foundation announced Tuesday. 

June 10, 2011

A new strain of swine flu has emerged that appears somewhat resistant to flu drugs, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A new strain of swine flu has emerged that appears somewhat resistant to flu drugs, according to published reports.

Reuters reported that scientists in Australia and Singapore had found a variant of the H1N1 flu that showed some resistance to Roche’s Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) and GlaxoSmithKline’s Relenza (zanamivir), though drug maker BioCryst currently is developing a drug called peramivir, to which the strain was not resistant.

June 3, 2011

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the Food and Drug Administration has recommended that the flu vaccine for the 2011-2012 season protect against the same strains as it did this year.

WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the Food and Drug Administration has recommended that the flu vaccine for the 2011-2012 season protect against the same strains as it did this year.

The FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended that the vaccine will protect those immunized against H1N1, H3N2 and a type of influenza-B virus, the same formulation as this past season's vaccine.

May 20, 2011

The Louisiana State Senate has given the green light to legislation that would expand pharmacy's ability to administer immunizations, and now the House of Representatives is slated to vote on the legislation in the coming days. The passage of SB 60 is important because expanding the pharmacist's ability to administer vaccinations is a relatively low-cost way to expand access and ultimately improve outcomes.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The Louisiana State Senate has given the green light to legislation that would expand pharmacy's ability to administer immunizations, and now the House of Representatives is slated to vote on the legislation in the coming days. The passage of SB 60 is important because expanding the pharmacist's ability to administer vaccinations is a relatively low-cost way to expand access and ultimately improve outcomes.

April 22, 2011

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday announced its CDC Flu App Challenge to identify innovative and creative uses of technology that would help raise awareness of influenza and/or educate consumers on ways to prevent and treat the flu. All told, the challenge will award up to $42,500 in prizes.

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday announced its CDC Flu App Challenge to identify innovative and creative uses of technology that would help raise awareness of influenza and/or educate consumers on ways to prevent and treat the flu. All told, the challenge will award up to $42,500 in prizes.

The submission period runs through May 27; winners will be announced June 8.

April 21, 2011

Companies that make vaccines, drugs and diagnostic tests for influenza will become key stakeholders in the World Health Organization’s Global Influenza Surveillance Network under an agreement reached at the Open Ended Working Group that WHO coordinated to support global preparedness for a future influenza pandemic.

LONDON — Companies that make vaccines, drugs and diagnostic tests for influenza will become key stakeholders in the World Health Organization’s Global Influenza Surveillance Network under an agreement reached at the Open Ended Working Group that WHO coordinated to support global preparedness for a future influenza pandemic.

April 21, 2011

An Ohio Department of Health study released Wednesday estimated that Ohio’s H1N1 vaccination efforts prevented 64 deaths, 1,400 hospitalizations and 310,402 cases of influenza during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The study also estimated that Ohio’s vaccination efforts saved the state $8.4 million in H1N1-related hospitalization costs.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio Department of Health study released Wednesday estimated that Ohio’s H1N1 vaccination efforts prevented 64 deaths, 1,400 hospitalizations and 310,402 cases of influenza during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The study also estimated that Ohio’s vaccination efforts saved the state $8.4 million in H1N1-related hospitalization costs.

February 25, 2011

Kroger is highlighting immunization against the flu this season on the company's website.

CINCINNATI — Kroger is highlighting immunization against the flu this season on the company's website.

January 31, 2011

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday updated the nation’s influenza status.

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday updated the nation’s influenza status. Nine states are reporting high influenza-like activity (a metric that captures the severity of a flu outbreak) and 25 states are reporting widespread activity (a metric that captures the estimated level of spread of influenza activity through state and territorial epidemiologists reports.)

January 24, 2011

Influenza activity in the United States decreased across several indicators, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday, though the agency projected that illness rates for the season have not yet peaked.

ATLANTA — Influenza activity in the United States decreased across several indicators, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday, though the agency projected that illness rates for the season have not yet peaked.

Of all influenza A viruses tested since Oct. 30, 2010, only 15.8% were identified as the 2009 H1N1 virus; 44.6% of the specimens were identified as an H3N2 virus. That virus is similar to the H3N2 component of the 2010-2011 triumvirate influenza vaccine.

January 11, 2011

Despite an increase in flu activity, a recent CVS/pharmacy survey showed that 56% of respondents still had not received their flu shot, although 93% were aware that there already have been reported cases of the flu this season, the pharmacy retailer stated.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Despite an increase in flu activity, a recent CVS/pharmacy survey showed that 56% of respondents still had not received their flu shot, although 93% were aware that there already have been reported cases of the flu this season, the pharmacy retailer stated.

Flu activity steadily is increasing in the United States, with eight states now having reported widespread outbreaks of influenza cases, according CVS/pharmacy, which cited the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

November 10, 2010

A new report from the Institute of Medicine applauded pharmacy's role in the public health...

September 19, 2010

Kmart Pharmacy's more than 900 walk-in flu clinics will be open through Nov. 15 for...

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart Pharmacy's more than 900 walk-in flu clinics will be open through Nov. 15 for customers looking to purchase a seasonal flu vaccination.

September 7, 2010

Concerns about last year's H1N1 virus have had an impact on Americans' hand-washing habits, according...

MILWAUKEE Concerns about last year's H1N1 virus have had an impact on Americans' hand-washing habits, according to a national survey conducted by Bradley Corp.

In Bradley's second Healthy Hand Washing survey, 50% of the 1,053 respondents said they "wash their hands more thoroughly or longer or more frequently" in public restrooms as a result of the H1N1 virus — that's up from 45% in 2009 when the same question was asked.

 

September 6, 2010

Regional pharmacy chain Kerr Drug is kicking off its immunization program early this year to...

August 30, 2010

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement regarding its recommendations for routine use...

WASHINGTON The American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement regarding its recommendations for routine use of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccines and antiviral medications for the prevention and treatment of influenza in children.

August 22, 2010

CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic have announced that flu shots now are available at all of their...

August 22, 2010

In the aftermath of the H1N1 flu pandemic that dominated airwaves during last year’s cough-cold-flu...

August 10, 2010

The World Health Organization's director-general Margaret Chan issued a statement on Tuesday that the H1N1...

NEW YORK The World Health Organization's director-general Margaret Chan issued a statement on Tuesday that the H1N1 influenza has entered the post-pandemic period, but warned that the virus has not yet gone away.

While WHO has reported marginal levels of H1N1 transmission worldwide as of late, Chan said it expects the H1N1 virus to take on the behavior of a seasonal influenza virus and continue to circulate for some years to come.

 

June 6, 2010

H1N1 proved to be a significant driver behind cough-cold sales this past season, though overall...

May 16, 2010

Only 12% of adults think they had the flu this past winter, fewer than the...

NEW YORK Only 12% of adults think they had the flu this past winter, fewer than the 15% to 21% who thought they had the flu in other winters since 2004, Harris Interactive reported Friday.

There is no evidence, however, that flu shots should get the credit for the decline in the number of people with the flu, though conversely, Harris Interactive also cautioned in its release there is no evidence that flu shots didn’t contribute on some level.