H1N1 Vaccine Supply May be Easing for Independent Pharmacies

By Lisa Fowler, Pharm.D.

While some large, national pharmacy chains are aggressively offering H1N1 vaccinations, as reported by The Wall Street Journal recently, some independent pharmacies have had a tougher time doing so.

Monday’s Reads: CVS Caremark Privacy Issues; Caterpillar Adds Independents; Adherence Tool Used in NH; 2010 Retail Pharmacy Outlook

NCPA and several consumer and privacy groups are asking the feds to investigate alleged privacy violations by CVS Caremark. Read more here.

Caterpillar, Inc. adds some independent pharmacies back to its network for 2010. The My Dose Alert adherence program is winning over customers at two New Hampshire pharmacies. An analyst offers predictions on the 2010 outlook for retail pharmacies. And USA TODAY publishes NCPA’s response to a misleading Tamiflu story.

P&G Recalls Some Vicks Spray; H1N1 Letup?; Feds Target Rogue Pharmacies, Drug Counterfeiting

Excerpts and links to stories of note:

P&G VOLUNTARILY RECALLS SPECIFIC LOTS OF VICKS SINEX NASAL SPRAY IN THE UNITED STATES, GERMANY AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
CINCINNATI, Nov. 19, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) announced today it is voluntarily recalling three lots of its Vicks Sinex nasal spray in three countries: the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.
The company said it is taking this precautionary step after finding the bacteria B. cepacia in a small amount of product made at its plant in Gross Gerau, Germany. There have been no reports of illness. However, the bacteria could cause serious infections for individuals with a compromised immune system, or those with chronic lung conditions, such as cystic fibrosis. B. cepacia poses little medical risk to healthy individuals.

CVS Caremark TV Exposé ; Community Pharmacies in the News

By Kevin Schweers

A leading Charlotte investigative TV reporter did a thorough and well-researched story on some of the problems resulting from the CVS Caremark merger. A Connecticut newspaper profiles a local community pharmacy’s challenges, such as mandatory mail order. Dallas County health officials work with local pharmacies to dispense H1N1 vaccine. Excerpts and links below:

Community Pharmacy Issues Heat Up In the States

By Kevin Schweers

There’s fresh evidence around the country of community pharmacy’s vital role in our health care system and why it’s so important for Congress to get health reform done right.

CVS Caremark Abuses Take No Break for H1N1 flu virus

By Douglas Hoey, RPh

The shortage of Tamiflu for children fighting the H1N1 (swine flu) virus led the drug’s manufacturer to ask pharmacists to compound the medicine until supplies improve. Rather than receiving the full, adult dose of Tamiflu, kids get the liquid version.