Data from the CDC on heart disease in the United States found that the population’s susceptibility to heart disease varies depending on the state and county, according to an analysis from ValuePenguin.

ValuePenguin consolidated the CDC’s state and county information for middle-aged adults between aged 45 and 64 years, as well as seniors to break down the effects that heart attacks, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and stroke have on communities across the country. The most recent data was compiled from deaths per 100,000 residents, from 2016 to 2018. The databases also provided information on the cost of Medicare, the number of uninsured Americans, and those living in poverty.

The analysis showed that people living in the South are disproportionately affected by fatal heart conditions, including heart attacks, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and strokes. Further, heart disease is responsible for more fatalities relative to population in the South than the rest of the country, with the rate of fatal cases being nearly 1/8 higher than average.

Of all the states, Mississippi had the highest rate of deaths from all forms of heart disease relative to its population, with 301 fatal cases of heart disease per 100,000 people. Arkansas led the country in fatal heart attacks and coronary heart disease, where the rate at which people died from heart attacks was triple the country’s average, according to the analysis.

In Oklahoma, hypertension killed 123% more people than average, whereas people in Mississippi were the most likely to die from strokes, though its population had only a 38% greater chance of experiencing a fatal stroke than the rest of the country.

The analysis also found that men have a much greater risk than women of dying from heart disease and are approximately 3 times as likely as women to die from coronary heart disease or a heart attack.

Additionally, the CDC found that Black Americans were more likely to die from heart disease than other groups. Compared to the average of all other races, middle-aged Black men and women were more than 2 times more likely to die from hypertension and strokes.

In 9 of the 10 counties with the highest proportion of cardiovascular deaths, more than 20% of residents were below the poverty line, according to the analysis. Lack of access to health care can be another problem facing areas that have notably high rates of cardiovascular deaths. Of the 10 counties most at risk of fatal cases of heart disease, there were 4 counties with 0 hospitals. While the number of uninsured residents in the most at-risk counties is mostly aligned with the national average, the cost of Medicare per capita is higher than average in 6 of 10.

Heart disease kills 13% more people than average in the southern United States. ValuePenguin. Published September 14, 2020. Accessed September 23, 2020. 

https://www.valuepenguin.com/who-is-at-risk-of-heart-disease

Articles

The databases also provided information on the cost of Medicare, the number of uninsured Americans, and those living in poverty.







Study: Heart Disease Kills 13% More People in the South Than US Average

Lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate (Phexxi, Evofem Biosciences) is a prescription combination, non-hormonal contraceptive gel approved by the FDA in May 2020. The vaginal gel was found to be 86.3% effective with typical use when inserted up to 1 hour before vaginal intercourse.



The gel acts as a contraceptive by maintaining the vaginal pH within its normal range of 3.5 to 4.5, an environment too acidic for sperm to survive. This pH regulating mechanism decreases sperm viability and supports bacteria integral to the vaginal microbiome.



The gel is supplied in a package of twelve, single dose (5 grams), pre-filled applicators with an attachable plunger. The applicator should be inserted into the vagina immediately before or up to 1 hour before vaginal intercourse, with a new dose needing to be administered prior to each act of intercourse.



The most common adverse events (AEs) were vulvovaginal burning (20%) and vulvovaginal itching (11.2%). Of local AEs, 23.9% were mild, 18.7% were moderate, and 2.3% were severe. Rates of these reactions mostly decreased over time.



Women with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections or urinary tract abnormalities should not use the gel due to the 0.36% incidence of cystitis or pyelonephritis in clinical trials.



Male partners of women using the gel might also experience local AEs such as burning, itching, and pain. However, the local AEs experienced by male partners were generally mild (74.7%), while 21.4% were moderate and 3.9% were severe.



The contraceptive gel is an option for women who are seeking a non-hormonal or on-demand method of birth control. Women preferring to use multiple methods of contraception can combine the gel with diaphragms and latex, polyurethane, and polyisoprene condoms. However, it should not be used with vaginal rings.



Spermicide is also available as a vaginal gel, but it is only about 72% effective with typical use.

 Like the non-hormonal contraceptive gel, it can be used on-demand. Nonoxynol-9, the active ingredient in most spermicides, can cause vaginal irritation and increase the risk of HIV transmission.

 In a clinical trial comparing nonoxynol-9 to the , incidences of vulvovaginal itching, burning, and irritation were similar, with the non-hormonal contraceptive gel having a slightly higher incidence of vulvovaginal burning.



The contraceptive gel’s novel pH modulating mechanism is currently being studied for prevention of gonorrhea and chlamydia in the phase 2B clinical trial AMPREVENCE. Preliminary results from the 4-month study period showed a 50% relative risk reduction of chlamydia and a 78% relative risk reduction of gonorrhea. The clinical trial will move on to phase 3 later in 2020.



Although the gel will be available as a prescription only treatment in September 2020, patients may face barriers to accessing the gel during COVID-19. Evofem Biosciences plans to launch a telemedicine program to support patient and provider access to the contraceptive gel.

 Additionally, barriers to contraception access could be further mitigated by enabling pharmacists to prescribe birth control.



Thomas MA, Chappel BT, Maximos B, Culwell KR, Dart C, Howard B. A novel vaginal pH regulator: results from the phase 3 AMPOWER contraception clinical trial. 

Phexxi. Prescribing information. Evofem Biosciences; 2020. 

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/208352s000lbl.pdf

https://www.hhs.gov/opa/pregnancy-prevention/birth-control-methods/spermicide/index.html

FDA. Code of Federal Regulations Title 21; April 1, 2019. 

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=201.325

Study of Contraceptive Efficacy & Safety of Phexxi™ (Previously Known as Amphora) Gel Compared to Conceptrol Vaginal Gel; March 11, 2020. 

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/results/NCT01306331

Evofem Biosciences Reports Positive Top-Line Results from Phase 2b Study of Amphora® for Prevention of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea in Women. Evofem Biosciences; December 2, 2020. 

https://evofem.investorroom.com/2019-12-02-Evofem-Biosciences-Reports-Positive-Top-Line-Results-from-Phase-2b-Study-of-Amphora-R-for-Prevention-of-Chlamydia-and-Gonorrhea-in-Women

U.S. FDA Approves Evofem Biosciences' Phexxi™ (lactic acid, citric acid and potassium bitartrate), the First and Only Non-Hormonal Prescription Gel for the Prevention of Pregnancy. Evofem Biosciences; May 22, 2020. 

https://evofem.investorroom.com/2020-05-22-U-S-FDA-Approves-Evofem-Biosciences-Phexxi-TM-lactic-acid-citric-acid-and-potassium-bitartrate-the-First-and-Only-Non-Hormonal-Prescription-Gel-for-the-Prevention-of-Pregnancy

Lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate is a prescription combination, non-hormonal contraceptive gel found to be 86.3% effective with typical use.

New Non-Hormonal Contraceptive Gel Found to Be Effective

Walgreens won the ‘Digital/Mobile Health Solutions’ category in the Fierce Innovation Awards - Healthcare Edition 2020. The annual competition highlights companies that demonstrated innovative solutions that have had the greatest potential to save money, engage patients, or revolutionize the industry over the past year, according to a press release.

The company’s digital health platform, Walgreens Find Care®, helps patients navigate their health care experience virtually, including by accessing convenient in-person and virtual doctor visits to manage chronic conditions. Patients are able to access more than 40 trusted providers that together offer more than 60 services and treat more than 100 conditions.

Walgreens Find Care® can flex and expand to meet emerging and current societal and health issues, according to an email sent to 

 For example, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Walgreens was able to expand the Walgreens Find Care® platform to include new features and telehealth service providers. With guidance from the CDC, the app was able to perform the following tasks:

Help patients connect with a Walgreens COVID-19 testing site.

Allow users to assess their risk for having COVID-19 through the use of a COVID-19 risk assessment tool based on CDC guidelines.

Guide individuals to relevant COVID-19 clinical trials in their area by using the Find My Clinical Trial program.

“We are honored to win this award for the innovative ways Walgreens helps make healthcare simpler, more accessible and more convenient,” said Giovanni Monti, senior vice president of healthcare services of Walgreens Boots Alliance, in a press release. “As a company focused on providing omni-channel solutions that address barriers to healthcare, we have designed Walgreens Find Care® to be the digital ‘front door’ to an integrated healthcare and pharmacy experience. Our goal is that Americans in all communities have convenient access to personalized, high-quality care that helps them lead healthier and happier lives.”

Walgreens Find Care wins Fierce Innovation Award [email]. Sent September 14, 2020. Accessed September 21, 2020.

Walgreens Find Care® receives high honors from Fierce Healthcare. Walgreens. 

https://news.walgreens.com/press-releases/general-news/walgreens-find-care-receives-high-honors-from-fierce-healthcare.htm

. Published September 14, 2020. Accessed September 21, 2020.

Walgreens won the ‘Digital/Mobile Health Solutions’ category in the Fierce Innovation Awards - Healthcare Edition 2020. 

Walgreens Receives Honor for Digital and Mobile Health Solutions in Fierce Innovation Awards 2020

The FDA has approved fluticasone furoate, umeclidinium, and vilanterol (Trelegy Ellipta, GSK) for use in adults with asthma that remains uncontrolled despite treatment with their current maintenance therapy. This is the first and only, once-daily single inhaler triple therapy approved for the treatment of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to GSK.

Andrew Thomas, vice president of Respiratory Business Unit at GSK, said this approval holds major significance for adults with uncontrolled asthma despite treatment with their current maintenance therapy. Due to the challenges that physicians may face to train their patients and prepare them for treatments, as well as the struggle for patients to remember how to take the treatment, this therapy will make a difference.

“There have been multiple inhaler triple therapies used in asthma previously, with a combination of at least 2 inhalers with different dosing regimens,” Thomas said in an interview with 

. “With Trelegy Ellipta, it is only one inhalation a day in a triple therapy.”

The approval was based off the results of the CAPTAIN study conducted in adults 18 years of age and older whose asthma was inadequately controlled despite treatment with ICS/LABA maintenance asthma medication.

The data showed that in patients with uncontrolled moderate or severe asthma on inhaled corticosteroid plus long-acting β 2-agonists, adding umeclidinium improved lung function but did not lead to a significant reduction in moderate and/or severe exacerbations. Further, these patients are recommended to use the single inhaler fluticasone furoate, umeclidinium, and vilanterol due to its favorable, high-risk benefit profile.

Thomas mentioned that not only is this treatment more convenient, but it is 100 ml of improvement in lung function to help patients feel better, breathe easier, and live a fuller life with their asthma.

“We hope that with the addition of these new indications that more adult asthmatics in the United States can get control of asthma symptoms and live better lives because of this, and the same goes for COPD patients,” Thomas said in an interview with 

. “Having this inhaler should make a big difference in the lives of those patients.”

GSK’s Trelegy Ellipta the First Once-Daily, Single Inhaler Triple Therapy Approved for Asthma [email]. Accessed September 18, 2020.

Lee LA, Bailes Z, Barnes N, et al. Efficacy and safety of once-daily single-inhaler triple therapy (FF/UMEC/VI) versus FF/VI in patients with inadequately controlled asthma (CAPTAIN): a double-blind, randomised, phase 3A trial. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. Doi:

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30389-1

This is the first and only, once-daily single inhaler triple therapy approved for the treatment of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

FDA Approves Trelegy Ellipta as First Single Inhaler Triple Therapy for Asthma

the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study showed that vaping marijuana and nicotine rose sharply in the past 3 years among college age students, or students between 19 and 22 years of age, according to a press release.

The percentage of college students who said they vaped marijuana in the past 30 days grew from 5.2% in 2017 to 14% in 2019. Additionally, the corresponding percentages for their non-college-attending peers increased from 7.8% in 2017 to 17% in 2019. 

MTF is an ongoing study of the trends in substance use by adolescents and adults in the United States, with the survey conducted by scientists at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.

The study showed that the percentage of college-age adults between 19 and 22 years of age who vaped nicotine also rose dramatically between 2017 and 2019. In 2017, 6.1% of college students and 7.9% of those not in college said they vaped nicotine in the past month, increasing to 22% and 18% in 2019, respectively. These increases in vaping marijuana and nicotine are among the largest seen for any substance use reported by the study in its 45-year history, according to the study authors.

“We are seeing an increasingly concerning trend,” said Nora D. Volkow, MD, director of NIDA in a press release. “Many young people may view vaping and cannabis use as ‘safer’, but the reality is that nicotine is highly addictive, and cannabis can also be addictive, particularly in younger adults for whom the brain is still developing.”

The results are based on data from college students 1 to 4 years beyond high school graduation who are enrolled full-time in a 2- or 4-year college in March of the given year, compared with same-age high school graduates not enrolled full-time in college.

The 2019 data also revealed a continuing high prevalence of marijuana use among 

young adults, who are 19 to 22 years of age. In 2018, 43% of this group reported using marijuana in the past year, with this percentage being unchanged in 2019. The prevalence of daily or near-daily use of marijuana (15%) was significant among those not attending college in 2019. This is compared to 5.9% of college students who reported daily or near-daily use of marijuana.

Other highlights in the survey results include the downward trend of cigarette smoking in college students, with only 7.6% of respondents reporting having smoked in the past month. Further, binge drinking has been declining gradually over the past few decades, showing no significant changes for young adults attending or not attending college. Prescription opioid misuse and amphetamine use are also shown to be on a continued decline for college students, according to the study authors.

Vaping, marijuana use in 2019 rose in college-age adults. NIH. 

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/vaping-marijuana-use-2019-rose-college-age-adults

. Published September 15, 2020. Accessed September 16, 2020.

The 2019 survey results from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study showed that vaping marijuana and nicotine rose sharply in the past 3 years among college age students, or students between 19 and 22 years of age.

National Study Shows Vaping, Marijuana Use in 2019 Rose in College-Age Adults

A new study from the Yale School of Public Health has found that higher rates of e-cigarette and marijuana use did not result in more e-cigarette or vaping-related lung injuries (EVALI) in the United States.

The study estimated the relationship between states’ total reported EVALI cases per capita as of January 2020, and pre-outbreak rates of adult vaping and marijuana use. The results showed higher rates of vaping and marijuana use are associated with fewer EVALI cases per capita.

“If e-cigarette or marijuana use per se drove this outbreak, areas with more engagement in those behaviors should show a higher EVALI prevalence,” said assistant professor and study author Abigail Friedman in a press release. “This study finds the opposite result. Alongside geographic clusters of high EVALI prevalence states, these findings are more consistent with locally available e-liquids or additives driving the EVALI outbreak than a widely used, nationally-available product.”

The CDC started a cross-state investigation into vaping-related lung injuries in August 2019, which confirmed more than 2800 cases and 68 deaths. In February 2020, the CDC concluded its national updates and officially classified vitamin E acetate, the additive linked to EVALI and common THC e-liquids, as the “primary cause of EVALI.”

Since the EVALI outbreak, a variety of state and federal legislative actions were passed to restrict sales of nicotine e-cigarettes, including a temporary ban on all e-cigarette sales in Massachusetts in late-2019 and bans on flavored e-cigarette sales in several states and localities, according to the study. The researchers suggest that those policies may have targeted the wrong behavior if the goal was to reduce EVALI risks.

According to Friedman, a negative relationship between EVALI prevalence and rates of pre-outbreak vaping and marijuana use suggests that well-established markets may have crowded-out the use of riskier, informally sourced e-liquids.

The 5 earliest states to legalize recreational marijuana (Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington) all had less than 1 EVALI case per 100,000 residents from 12 to 64 years of age. However, none of the highest EVALI-prevalence states (Utah, North Dakota, Minnesota, Delaware, Indiana) allowed recreational marijuana use.

“If this policy led some recreational marijuana smokers to switch to vaping THC, perhaps in order to avoid detection, it would have increased their likelihood of exposure to contaminated e-liquids when those came on the market. This may have contributed to the higher EVALI prevalence in those states,” said Friedman in a press release.

It may be crucial for policymakers to consider the potential unintended consequences of policies that forbid smokable marijuana while allowing THC e-liquids going forward.




Rates of e-cigarette and marijuana use not associated with larger outbreaks of vaping-related lung injuries, YSPH study finds. Yale School of Public Health. 

https://publichealth.yale.edu/news-article/26879/

. Published August 25, 2020. Accessed August 26, 2020.


The results showed higher rates of vaping and marijuana use are associated with fewer EVALI cases per capita.

Study Finds Rates of E-Cigarettes, Marijuana Use Not Associated With Vaping-Related Lung Injuries

The Department of Defense (DoD) awarded Adaptive Phage Therapeutics (APT) $9.8 million for the development of multiple high-priority, bacteriophage-based display vaccine candidates against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

APT is currently the only company investigating a phage-based COVID-19 vaccine program that is set to begin clinical trials in 2020, according to a company press release. The award from the DoD will support APT’s ability to advance and evaluate vaccine candidates in phase 1 clinical trials this year.

Therapeutic use of phage-based vaccines is well-understood and has a favorable safety profile, offering specific advantages as a vaccine candidate option, according to APT. Phage-based vaccines work by establishing a platform approach that provides the opportunity to adjust the vaccine in response to mutations in the coronavirus. Phage-based vaccines are also self-adjuvanted, which means they are capable of automatically activating and boosting immune response, allowing for multiple antigens to be displayed, according to APT.

“A vaccine against COVID-19 will be a critical enabler to protect our service members and the American people,” said Thomas Dunn, acting program manager, Naval Advanced Medical Development, Naval Medical Research Center, in a press release. “This research contract will expedite prospective efforts to deliver a safe and effective phage-vaccine."

Additionally, recent studies have demonstrated that immunity to COVID-19 may be transient and require frequent booster vaccinations in order to maintain immunity. For this reason, APT has been investigating delivery of the vaccine orally in the form of a lozenge that would facilitate necessary booster doses with greater ease.

“We anticipate phase 1 trials to demonstrate safety and immunogenicity,” said Greg Merril, CEO and co-founder, APT, in the press release. “The potential benefits of a phage-based vaccine include versatility for route of administration (mucosal and intramuscular), including a potential oral lozenge, adaptability to virus mutations, speed of development and cost-effectiveness. These benefits, along with the established safety profile of phage, offer hope as a potential tool in mitigating this terrible pandemic.”

Merril noted that the company is also ready to rapidly scale up production in the United States should the vaccine be approved by the FDA.

“We are fully committed to deploying our facilities and our staff to fight the impact of this public health crisis,” Merril said.




Adaptive Phage Therapeutics Receives Department of Defense Award for Development of COVID-19 Vaccine. Gathersburg, MD: Adaptive Phage Therapeutics; August 20, 2020. businesswire.com/news/home/20200820005593/en. Accessed August 21, 2020.

The Department of Defense awarded Adaptive Phage Therapeutics $9.8 million for the development of multiple high-priority, bacteriophage-based display vaccine candidates against COVID-19.

Department of Defense Awards Adaptive Phage Therapeutics $9.8 Million for Development of COVID-19 Vaccine

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be having a widespread effect on people’s mental health, according to a new study published in 



The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 800,000 deaths worldwide and there has been over 23.4 million confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization. The pandemic has led to widespread shutdowns and social distancing measures, with schools and businesses closed, and a subsequent spike in unemployment.

The study authors analyzed Google search queries that mentioned “panic attack” or “anxiety attack” from the United States between January 2004 and May 9, 2020. Examples of the queries they used are “am I having a panic attack” and “signs of an anxiety attack.”

The study authors chose to look at anxiety attacks because they are indicative of, or can often lead to, other mental health problems, such as depression. Anxiety attacks are also triggered by outside stressors and are socially contagious. The study authors then evaluated trends after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency on March 13, 2020.

The largest growth in queries occurred between March 16, 2020, and April 14, 2020, with a cumulative increase of 17%, according to the study. This increase coincided with the release of national social distancing guidelines on March 16 and their extension on March 29.

Additionally, the study authors found that searches for anxiety attacks coincided with the United States surpassing certain international benchmarks, such as surpassing China in most reported cases on March 26 and surpassing Italy for most deaths on April 11. An increase was also seen when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended facemasks on April 3.

"In practical terms, over the first 58 days of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were an estimated 3.4 million total searches related to severe acute anxiety in the United States…In fact, searches for anxiety and panic attacks were the highest they've ever been in over 16 years of historical search data," Benjamin Althouse, PhD, principal scientist at the Institute for Disease Modeling, said in the press release.

The researchers said that it may take years to fully deal with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, resources should be made available to those who need it the most, the study authors concluded.

Reference:

Am I having a panic attack? Internet searches for anxiety attacks take off during COVID-19 (Press Release), La Jolla, CA. August 24, 2020, EurekAlert! Accessed August 25, 2020

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Google searches for anxiety have climbed 17%. 

Study: COVID-19 Pandemic Causing Mental Health Issues

Coping with peanut allergies is largely driven by fear of accidental exposure and allergic reaction, according to a study from Aimmune Therapeutics. The investigators found that his fear and stress can have major emotional and social effects for children and teens with peanut allergies as well as their caregivers.

According to Aimmune, the APPEAL-2 study was designed to explore several ways that peanut allergies impact youth and caregivers. Patients with these allergies frequently experience frustration, stress, uncertainty, and low levels of confidence in managing their allergy, according to the study’s results.

“In their own words, children, teens, and their caregivers revealed the day-to-day difficulties of living with peanut allergy, and how the lack of societal awareness impacts their emotional and social development,” said investigator Audrey Dunn Galvin, PhD, in a statement.

The investigators found that most teenagers reported negative experiences when going to restaurants, including embarrassment at having to declare their allergy or being treated unkindly by staff. A quarter of teens also reported that their allergy impacted dating and romantic relationships.

Nearly a third of children and a small number of teenagers said they did not want others to know about their allergy and actively chose not to disclose it. Some said this was because of embarrassment, while others said it was to avoid teasing or bullying. Nearly all children and teens reported a negative impact on their social activities, adding that they avoided social situations as a strategy of disease management. They also felt left out or envious because they feel unable to attend social events, and several participants reported incidents of teasing or bullying.

The researchers also found significant impacts on caregivers, who reported many of the same emotional impacts. Over a third reported that their child’s allergy had a negative impact on their work or career, including having to take time off and limiting their working hours. The authors emphasized that this could illustrate a potential socioeconomic impact for families with peanut allergies.

Caregivers also reported that buying and preparing food was a major, time-consuming aspect of managing their child’s allergy, and often mentioned the need to determine suitable places to eat and the nearest hospital or pharmacy before going out. Nearly a quarter of respondents said they prefer to avoid social events if peanuts were served or if they would have no control over the environment, and some caregivers did not allow their children to attend social events.

The authors noted that this caregiver anxiety is rooted in a lack of control. Approximately half of caregivers reported that they worry about having less control over their child’s food and environment as the child ages and becomes increasingly independent.

Although these findings reveal frustration and fear for children with peanut allergies and their parents, the researchers also noted several opportunities to reduce the burden of living and coping with such allergies. Education is vital in order to increase awareness and understanding, among both the general public and health care professionals. They also recommended adding clearer and more meaningful precautionary allergen food labeling, as well as developing more informative communication around food allergen risks and safety.

Largest European Qualitative Study on Peanut Allergy Highlights Negative Impact of Avoidance and Fear of Accidental Peanut Allergy Reactions on Allergic Individuals and Their Caregivers [news release]. Aimmune Therapeutics; August 24, 2020. 

https://ir.aimmune.com/news-releases/news-release-details/largest-european-qualitative-study-peanut-allergy-highlights

Many caregivers reported that their child’s peanut allergy negatively impacts their job or career, suggesting potential socioeconomic impacts on families.

Peanut Allergy Study Emphasizes Impact of Avoidance, Fear of Accidental Reaction

Contemporary Clinic spoke with Leslie Clayton Milteer, PA-C, MPAS, DFAAPA, AAPA Board of Directors, about the importance of flu vaccines and how the public can prepare for the upcoming flu season.

As a board member and family practice physician assistant, Milteer deals with immunization and quality care guidelines in her everyday tasks.


According to Milteer, the way that patient care has been approached has drastically changed in the last 6 months, including how to bring a patient into the clinic, AAPA’s extensive amount of work to provide readily available information to their members and the public regarding COVID-19 protection, and the role PAs can play in improving community health.


Milteer also discussed how important flu vaccines will be this year, how PAs can stop the stigma around vaccinations, and what she hopes to see for the future of PAs in the “new normal.”

Videos

Contemporary Clinic spoke with Leslie Clayton Milteer, PA-C, MPAS, DFAAPA
AAPA Board of Directors, about the importance of flu vaccines and how the public can prepare for the upcoming flu season. 

How to Prepare for the 2020 Flu Season

A new study from researchers at the University of Turku, Abo Akademi University, and University of Bristol, found that people who tend to react negatively to rules and recommendations have lower trust in medical doctors and a more negative attitude toward vaccines, which may cause them to reject vaccines for themselves or their children.

The defiance in people acting negatively toward vaccines may stem from the vaccine recommendations given by authorities or social pressure in society to get vaccinated, according to the study.

The study authors also found that defiance and lower trust in physicians correlated to a higher likelihood to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), or treatments and substances that are not included in evidence-based medicine. These treatments have not been clearly demonstrated through established scientific methods.

A list of CAM products was presented to 770 parents of young children, from which they were asked to select the products they had using during the past 12 months to treat an illness or to maintain good health. Further, approximately 40% of the parents reported using 1 or more CAM products.

The results showed that half of the parents reported taking the flu vaccine during the preceding season. Although approximately 75% of the parents had accepted the childhood vaccines for their children without hesitation, approximately 7% had refused to take a vaccine for their child at least once.

However, 9 out of 10 parents partly or completely trusted the physician’s ability to make correct diagnoses and that physicians have their patients’ best interest in mind when making health-related decisions, according to the study.




Defiance and low trust in medical doctors related to vaccine skepticism. University of Turku. 

https://www.utu.fi/en/news/press-release/defiance-and-low-trust-in-medical-doctors-related-to-vaccine-scepticism

. Published August 20, 2020. Accessed August 25, 2020.

Negative feelings toward vaccines may be caused by the recommendations given by authorities or social pressure in society to get vaccinated, according to a study.

Study: Defiance, Low Trust in Medical Doctors Related to Vaccine Skepticism

Pharmacy Times spoke with Mitchel C. Rothholz, CSO at the American Pharmacists Association, about National Immunization Awareness Month and why it's important.

Rothholz emphasized the opportunity to really talk about the importance of immunizations and the importance of all ages to know the value of vaccines and their prevention of vaccine preventable diseases. 

Further, he mentioned that although the supply for vaccinations is there, the question lies in if there will be demand by the public due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Rothholz also spoke on the administration of the COVID-19/seasonal flu vaccine, the pharmacist's role in the administration of vaccines, and how pharmacists can help educate the public who are hesitant in getting the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Pharmacy Times spoke with Mitchel C. Rothholz, CSO at the American Pharmacists Association, about National Immunization Awareness Month and why it's important. 

The Importance of National Immunization Awareness Month

Walgreens is now offering flu shots daily at all of its nearly 9100 pharmacies, with additional safety measures in place that follow the CDC’s recommendations for anyone over 6 months of age to get the flu shot.

“The convergence of COVID-19 and flu season means that flu vaccinations are critical to reduce the overall burden of respiratory illnesses on the healthcare system and help protect communities,” said Kevin Ban, MD, chief medical officer of Walgreens, in a press release. “Getting your flu shot at Walgreens is one more thing we know everyone can do to help keep themselves and their loved ones healthy, in addition to social distancing, thorough hand washing and wearing face coverings.”

Back in June, Walgreens announced their implementation of additional safety measures or exceeding CDC guidelines for pharmacy team members and patients to best meet anticipated demand for flu shots this season.

Some of the new preparations for customers include filling out any paperwork online, bringing a face covering to enter the Walgreens store, and bringing insurance information and photo identification.

Further, enhanced cleaning regimens, plexiglass shields, and social distancing protocols will be maintained at all Walgreens locations. All pharmacy team members who administer the flu shot will be wearing plastic face shields as additional protection in addition to their disposable face masks and gloves. Before administering the immunizations, pharmacy team members will take patients’ temperature and screen for the presence of symptoms or illness.




Flu shots now available at all Walgreens pharmacies. Walgreens. 

https://news.walgreens.com/press-releases/general-news/flu-shots-now-available-at-all-walgreens-pharmacies.htm

. Published August 17, 2020. Accessed August 18, 2020.


Walgreens is now offering flu shots daily at all of its nearly 9100 pharmacies, with additional safety measures in place that follow the CDC’s recommendations for anyone over 6 months of age to get the flu shot.


Flu Shots Now Available at All Walgreens Pharmacies

To support pediatricians, pharmacists and primary care physicians as schools reopen during the pandemic, MJH Life Sciences™ today announced it will host “Debating the Road Back to School,” a free, live, one-hour webinar on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m. EDT.

August traditionally kicks off back-to-school time in the United States, but this year presents challenges as the number of new, confirmed coronavirus cases increases each day in many parts of the country. As a result, school administrators, nurses and teachers are trying to reopen while protecting student safety and preventing new infections.

This panel discussion will feature some of the biggest names in the pediatric and pharmacy fields, who will discuss Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, how to return to school safely and how to counsel parents through this confusing time. They’ll also address the pros and cons of adding the new coronavirus to the list of state-mandated immunizations for children once a vaccine is available.

The moderator will be Kathleen Kenny, Pharm.D., the president and CEO of Med Ink Exec, and panelists include Donna Hallas, Ph.D., PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN, a clinical professor and the director of the pediatric nurse practitioner program at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, and Paul Lipkin, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

“From the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, we recognized how important it was for our audiences to receive impartial, up-to-the-minute, science-based information and education about the crisis,” said Mike Hennessy Jr., president, and CEO of MJH Life Sciences™. “That’s why we began immediately creating detailed, COVID-specific content and webinars relevant to all medical specialties (for example, our ‘

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: A new wrinkle in COVID-19’ webinar

), including fielding research into pandemic has affected physician’s practices today and into the future the most recent success of the widely attended and highly rated “

” webinar, we decided to host another educational and time-sensitive webinar to support these clinicians on the front lines.”

During the webinar, the panelists will provide insight on the following pressing questions:


Can children return to school and be in classroom environments that ensure health and well-being for all?

What factors must be considered when creating reopening policies, in terms of masks, testing and infection-prevention methods?

Where do children fall on the list of recipients once a vaccine is made available, and will that immunization be mandated?


MJH Life Sciences™ is the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels, providing health care professionals with the information and resources they need to optimize patient outcomes. MJH Life Sciences™ combines the reach and influence of its powerful portfolio of digital and print product lines, live events, educational programs and market research with the customization capabilities of a boutique firm. Clients include world-leading pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and biotech companies. For more information, please visit https://www.mjhlifesciences.com/.

To support pediatricians, pharmacists and primary care physicians as schools reopen during the pandemic, MJH Life Sciences™ today announced it will host “Debating the Road Back to School,” a free, live, one-hour webinar on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m. EDT.

MJH Life Sciences™ Hosts Expert-Driven 'Debating the Road Back to School' Live Webinar

Contemporary Clinic spoke with Beth Sandy, CRNP, about oncology nursing and her role at Penn Medicine.

Sandy has a role that is more of a collaborative practice with physicians where she has her own independent clinic. 

With her specialty in lung cancer, Sandy was worried about her patients and the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, they have been extra cautious, considering some of them struggle with following the mask protocol without breathing issues.

Sandy feels that oncology nurses support patients by being that "extra layer" of evaluation and other symptoms that patients may not be comfortable sharing with their physician. From a nurse practitioner standpoint, being that extra hug and support is crucial.   

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