COVID trial vaccines may be inadequate, some FDA advisors fear
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2020
The current vaccine trials may be too focused on mild rather than severe disease, some advisors contend. But their arguments got pushback in a meeting streamed on the agency’s YouTube channel.
Omnicare’s Jim Love: COVID vaccine delivery will mirror CVS flu clinic program
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 23, 2020
CVS Health will apply its experience with onsite flu vaccination and COVID-19 testing to its new role as a partner in the federal government’s long-term care COVID-19 vaccination efforts, Omnicare President...
CDC briefing: Top officials talk up vaccine plans, focus on long-term care
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 22, 2020
Federal health officials touted transparency and nationwide distribution plans while keeping their eye on Phase 1 vaccine recipients, including LTC residents and workers.
Residents with cognitive impairment face more hospital admissions
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 21, 2020
Respiratory distress was also linked to more admissions after ED transfers. In contrast, residents with falls, trauma or fracture, non-gastrointestinal bleeding, and pain were more likely to be discharged...
Opt-in COVID vaccine program kicks off; Feds partner with CVS, Walgreens
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 19, 2020
Long-term care facilities nationwide can voluntarily opt in to a free pharmacy partnership program that will provide and administer future COVID-19 vaccines on site, federal officials announced Friday.
Emergency sick days may have helped flatten the U.S. COVID curve
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 19, 2020
States that gained access to emergency paid sick leave during the pandemic saw 400 fewer COVID-19 cases per day, a new study has found.
Neuropathic pain drugs ranked for efficacy in real-life comparison study
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 19, 2020
Among four drugs commonly used to treat unexplained neuropathic pain in seniors, two stand out as the most effective and least likely to be discontinued, physician researchers report.
Verma: CMS to ensure free COVID vaccine for seniors, Medicaid beneficiaries
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 16, 2020
The agency has a plan to expedite the new coverage and will provide more information before the end of October, Verma said. CMS is also working on appropriate Medicare fees for administration of potential...
Clinical briefs for Thursday, Oct. 15
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 15, 2020
CDC updates COVID vaccine information for healthcare workers … Mild-to-moderate COVID-19 ‘highly unlikely’ to be infectious after day 10: study … Certain blood pressure meds tied to lower mortality...
CDC: Prepare for COVID cases to rise in elders when young adult infections surge
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 14, 2020
In hotspot counties, surges in COVID infections begin in younger adults, followed by “several weeks” of increases in older age groups, agency investigators have found.