From the Desk of the CEO

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) continues to track the errors that have been reported from the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

Pregnant women should get the COVID-19 vaccine, said CDC. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, noted at a White House briefing that vaccination surveillance systems found “no safety concerns” for more than 35,000 women in their third trimester or for their babies.

More than 87,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the 12-month period that ended in September 2020, according to preliminary CDC data, which indicate that the U.S. drug overdose mortality rate increased last year.

Patients will be coming to pharmacists with questions and concerns as the recommendation to suspend use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson, J&J) vaccine remains in place.