December
December 30, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Manufacturer recall issued for 1 lot of Clobetasol Propionate Ointment USP, 0.05% 60 g tubes (Lot AC13786, Exp Dec 2022) due to possible microbial (R. pickettii) contamination…Read Here
December 27, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC now recommends people with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours). Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, they should wear a mask for 10 days…Read Here
December 20, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA approved Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension) for use in at-risk adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kilograms (77 pounds) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV. Apretude is given first as two initiation injections administered one month apart, and then every two months thereafter…Read Here
December 3, 2021 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Study shows significant increase in telehealth service use by medicare beneficiaries during the pandemic. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue payments for certain mental health telemedicine services provided by Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers…Read Here
December 1, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - First confirmed case of COVID-19 Omicron Variant identified in the U.S.…Read Here
NOVEMBER
November 30, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - December 1 is World AIDS Day: CDC report acknowledges overall improvements in HIV treatment and prevention, and highlights striking inequities between ethnic groups, including the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)…Read Here
November 5, 2021 - U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - Recent National Prescription Drug Take Back Day takes in about 745,000 Pounds of unused meds…Read Here
November 2, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC Recommends Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 5 to 11 Years…Read Here
OCTOBER
October 29, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Vaccination Offers Higher Protection than Previous COVID-19 Infection According to CDC study…Read Here
October 23, 2021 - U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - National Prescription Drug Take Back Day…Read Here
October 21, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA expands authorization for COVID-19 booster shots. Guidelines allow ‘mix and match dosing’ for people seeking to get a booster dose from a different manufacturer than their original shot…Read FDA statement here, Read CDC statement here
October 20, 2021 - CT Department of Consumer Protection - ‘Movement disorders associated with Huntington Disease’ added to the list of qualifying conditions for Connecticut’s Medical Marijuana Program, following recommendations from the state Medical Marijuana Program Board of Physicians…Read Here
October 15, 2021 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins (October 15 - December 7, 2021)…Read Here
October 15, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Class 1 recalls issued for Alinity m SARS-CoV-2 AMP Kit and Alinity m Resp-4-Plex AMP Kit for potential false positive SARS-CoV-2 test Results due to software issue…Read Here
October 15, 2021 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - HHS Announces Availability of $100 Million for State Loan Repayment Programs to Support Primary Health Care Workforce in Underserved Communities…Read Here
October 13, 2021 - National Institutes of Health - SOARS-B Study: Oxytocin does not improve social functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder…Read Here
October 13, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA permits marketing of tobacco flavored E-Cigarettes due to data showing benefit in addicted adult smokers who switch to these products…Read Here
October 7, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Study: More than 140,000 U.S. Children Lost a Primary or Secondary Caregiver Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic…Read Here
October 6, 2021 - World Health Organization - The WHO recommends the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine Mosquirix for use in regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria based on results from ongoing clinical trials in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi...Read Here
October 5, 2021 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Vaccination Linked to a Reduction of Over a Quarter Million COVID-19 Cases, 100,000 Hospitalizations, and 39,000 Deaths Among Seniors (Medicare beneficiaries) between January and May 2021…Read Here
October 1, 2021 - CT Department of Consumer Protection - Patients registered with the Department of Consumer Protection’s (DCP) Medical Marijuana Program may now use any Connecticut licensed medical marijuana dispensary facility…Read Here
SEPTEMBER
September 29, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC issues advisory for COVID-19 vaccinations among people who are pregnant, recently pregnant or trying to become pregnant…Read Here
September 24, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC recommends Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine booster for specific groups including people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings, as well as people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions…Read Here
September 10, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA issues Frequently Asked Questions concerning the recall of certain Philips Respironics CPAP, BiPAP, and Ventilator products…Read Here
September 8, 2021 - World Health Organization - Updates from the 11th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science…Read Here
September 8, 2021 - World Health Organization - COVAX - statement on covid vaccine supply forecast…Read Here
September 6, 2021 - National Institutes of Health - Disparities in opioid overdose deaths continue to worsen…Read Here
September 1, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA requires updates to black box warnings on the labels of Xeljanz/Xeljanz XR, Olumiant and Rinvoq - janus kinase inhibitors (JAK) used to treat various chronic inflammatory conditions. Warnings will include information about the risks of serious heart-related events, cancer, blood clots, and death…Read Here
AUGUST
August 31, 2021 - National Institutes of Health - The Imbokodo study - a clinical trial for a potential HIV vaccine conducted in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, ended as data showed insufficient protection for women…Read Here. Statement from J&J.
August 23, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA approves Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older…Read Here
August 13, 2021 - World Health Organization - Fake remdesivir products identified…Read Here
August 13, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC endorses Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for booster doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems…Read Here
August 12, 2021 - National Institutes of Health - NIH-funded study finds deaths related to pregnancy or childbirth are 3.5 times higher among non-Hispanic Black women than among non-Hispanic white women…Read Here
August 12, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - 2021 Medical Device Recalls…Read Here
August 11, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - COVID-19 Vaccination Safe for Pregnant People…Read Here
August 10, 2021 - World Health Organization - Interim statement on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses…Read Here
JULY
July 19, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Recall issued for specific lots of Chantix 0.5mg, 1 mg, and Chantix kit 0.5mg/1 mg Tablets due to N-nitroso-varenicline levels above manufacturer acceptable limits…Read Here
July 9, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Class I recall issued for specific lots of blood lead testing products - LeadCare II, LeadCare Plus, and LeadCare Ultra Blood Lead Tests, due to a significant risk of falsely low results…Read Here
July 8, 2021 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Joint CDC and FDA Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters…Read Here
July 7, 2021 - World Health Organization - Online learning supports governments to operationalize a One Health approach in countries…Read Here
July 7, 2021 - World Health Organization - New WHO recommendations issued to improve access to rapid molecular tests for the detection of TB and drug-resistant TB…Read Here (2021 WHO Operational Handbook on Tuberculosis)
JUNE
June 30, 2021 - National Institutes of Health - Phase 1 clinical trials for investigational malaria vaccine shows positive results…Read Here
June 30, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Recall issued for certain Philips Respironics ventilators, BiPAP, and CPAP machines due to possible risk of inhaling or swallowing harmful chemicals and/or debris from polyurethane foam used in the products to minimize sound and vibrations…Read Here
June 25, 2021 - CT Department of Consumer Protection - Selling THC-Containing Hemp Products Is Now Illegal: THCs derived from hemp may only be sold by licensed cannabis establishments effective July 1…Read Here
June 11, 2021 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - HHS Issues Revised Notice of Reporting Requirements and Reporting Timeline for Recipients of Provider Relief Fund Payments…Read Here
June 11, 2021 - World Health Organization - Statement for healthcare professionals: How COVID-19 vaccines are regulated for safety and effectiveness…Read Here
June 11, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Manufacturer issues recall of two lots of Metformin HCl Extended-Release Tablets 750 mg, due to the detection of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) Impurity…Read Here
June 10, 2021 - National Institutes of Health - NIH leaders detail commitment to end structural racism in biomedical science…Read Here
June 10, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA issues warning to stop using the Innova SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test…Read Here
June 7, 2021 - National Institutes of Health - Study suggests no association between antiseizure drugs (primarily lamotrigine and/or levetiracetam) used during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental problems in children at age 2…Read Here
June 7, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC Study Shows mRNA Vaccines Reduce Risk of Infection by 91 Percent for Fully Vaccinated People…Read Here
June 7, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA defends decision to grant accelerated approval for new Alzheimer’s drug despite recommendation from advisory panel...Read Here
June 4, 2021 - CT Department of Consumer Protection - House Bill 6100, which allows Connecticut licensed pharmacists to prescribe and distribute epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens), has been signed by governor…Read Here
May
May 14, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Vaccine Effectiveness Study in Health Workers Shows mRNA Vaccines 94% Effective…Read Here
May 10, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA expands EUA for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to include adolescents 12-15 years of age…Read Here
May 10, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Recall issued for product samples of Levemir, Tresiba, Fiasp, Novolog and Xultophy due to improper storage… Read Here
May 5, 2021- National Institutes of Health - NIH Statement on World Asthma Day 2021…Read Here
May 3, 2021 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - New Reimbursement Program for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Fees not Covered by Insurance…Read Here
April
April 30, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Recall announced for some batches of NP Thyroid®, Thyroid Tablets due to lower than acceptable potency discovered during routine testing…Read Here
April 30, 2021 - Pharmacy Times - Pharmacists play an important role in caring for people with asthma…Read Here
April 23, 2021 - CT Department of Consumer Protection - Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Encourage Families are encouraged to dispose of unneeded medications on the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day...Read Here.
April 23, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC & FDA recommend Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccinations resume, following their evaluation of reported CVST with thrombocytopenia cases…Read Here. Fact Sheet for healthcare providers available Here.
April 16, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA ends EUA for bamlanivimab use as monotherapy for treating COVID-19…Read Here
April 13, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - The FDA and CDC recommend pause of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccinations while they evaluate six cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) blood clots and thrombocytopenia in women within two weeks of being vaccinated. So far almost seven million doses have been administered in the U.S. ...Read Here
February
February 27, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA issues EUA for the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine to be used in people 18 years of age and older…Read Here
February 4, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR (tofacitinib), used to treat arthritis and ulcerative colitis, may result in an increased risk of serious heart-related problems and cancer compared to Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) inhibitors…Read Here
February 3, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Two (2) batches of Enoxaparin Sodium Injection have been recalled due to a packaging error resulting in incorrect dosage listed…Read Here
January
January 30, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC requires people to wear face masks on public transport…Read Here
January 28, 2021 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - HHS announces special enrollment for health insurance is available through Healthcare.gov due to COVID-19…Read Here
January 27, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - The FDA has approved Cabenuva (cabotegravir+rilpivirine), an injectable drug administered intramuscularly once-a-month, for treating HIV-1…Read Here
January 25, 2021 - National Institutes of Health - A review of 2014 study leads to different conclusion that “low-dose aspirin may improve pregnancy chances for women with one or two prior miscarriages”…Read Here
January 12, 2021 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC requires negative COVID-19 test for all passengers entering the United States by air...Read Here
January 4, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - The FDA continues to recommend two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, with each dose separated by their specified intervals: 21 days for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, and 28 days for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine…Read Here
January 4, 2021 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Recall issued for another batch of metformin ER 750mg tablets…Read Here
January 1, 2021 - World Health Organization - WHO recommends the dapivirine vaginal ring as a new choice for HIV prevention for women at substantial risk of HIV infection…Read Here