News Briefs
✦ HHS on Sept. 9 issued guidance that authorizes state-licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 vaccines to people ages 3 and up — when they’re authorized or licensed by the FDA and made available to the public. “Allowing pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 vaccines will greatly expand convenient access for the American people,” said Assistant Secretary for Health ADM Brett P. Giroir, M.D. To qualify for vaccine administration, pharmacists or registered pharmacy interns must meet a variety of requirements, such as completing a training program. Read more about the guidance at https://bit.ly/3if2tDR.
✦ The CEOs of nine pharmaceutical companies on Sept. 8 issued a “historic pledge” aimed at bolstering public confidence that they will develop and test potential COVID-19 vaccines “in accordance with high ethical standards and sound scientific principles.” The pledge — signed by the CEOs of AstraZeneca, BioNTech, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna, Inc., Novavax, Inc. Pfizer Inc. and Sanofi — comes amid mounting worries that the Trump administration will put political pressure on drug companies to seek premature approval of a vaccine for the coronavirus. Among other promises, the companies said they will only submit a vaccine for FDA approval or emergency use authorization after it demonstrates safety and efficacy through a well-designed Phase 3 clinical study. Read the pledge at https://bwnews.pr/2FfEvtn.
