2022 NEWS

A selection of health and prescription drug related news

Archive: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020



DECEMBER

December 21, 2022 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - HHS has increased the amount of Tamiflu from the Strategic National Stockpile available for states to access due to increased demand…Read Here

December 9, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Children 6 months to 5 years are eligible to receive an updated booster vaccine per CDC. Children who got the Moderna vaccine for their primary series are eligible to receive a Moderna bivalent booster 2 months after completing the initial series, while children 6 months to 4 years who received Pfizer for their initial doses will receive the Pfizer bivalent vaccine as their third dose…Read Here


November



November 30, 2022 - National Institutes of Health - REGARDS study found that HDL (good) cholesterol may be less effective at predicting cardiovascular disease risk, especially among adults of different racial and ethnic backgrounds…Read Here



November 23, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - The CDC warns that nearly 40 million children missed a measles vaccine dose in 2021…Read Here

November 22, 2022- U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA is investigating the risk of severe hypocalcemia in patients on dialysis who are being treated with the osteoporosis medication Prolia (denosumab). The announcement contains treatment recommendations, such as ensuring patients are adequately supplemented with calcium and vitamin D while on denosumab therapy…Read Here




OCTOBER





October 18, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC advises the Novavax COVID booster vaccine can be used in place of an updated mRNA vaccine for people who have gotten their complete initial Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shots but have not previously received a booster dose...Read Here





October 17, 2022 - National Institutes of Health - NIH Sister Study finds higher risk of uterine cancer in women who reported using chemical hair straightening products…Read Here





October, 2022 - U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to support the safe disposal of unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs will hold on October 29…Details Here



SEPTEMBER



September 22, 2022- U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA issues guidance on the exemption of prescription Naloxone used by harm reduction programs, from certain restrictions under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). This is guidance should improve Naloxone availability through harm reduction programs during the opioid public health emergency…Read Here




September 19, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Four in Five pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable, with mental health conditions identified as a leading underlying factor …Read Here




September 1, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna - which now include Omicron strains, for use in people ages 12 years and older, and ages 18 years and older, respectively…Read Here




September, 2022 - U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - One Pill Can Kill…Read Here for fact sheets and picture guides on fake pills made to look like prescription brands, including fentanyl laced tablets.


AUGUST



August 31, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - An analysis of medicare beneficiary data between 2018 and 2021 showed the use of telehealth services in Opioid Use Disorder management reduced the risk of overdose requiring medical treatment and improved patient retention in their treatment programs…Read Here



August 22, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC recommends Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents ages 12 through 17…Read Here and See the CDC overview of available COVID vaccines Here




August 19, 2022 - U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - DEA Recognizes National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day (August 21, 2022) …Read Here


August 17, 2022- U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA has issued a final rule that will allow hearing aids -for people 18 years of age and older with mild to moderate hearing impairment, to be made available for purchase over-the-counter (without needing a prescription). This rule will go into effect in October 2022…Read Here



August 9, 2022- U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine, for use in people 18 years and older at high risk of infection (given by intradermal injection), and in people younger than 18 years at high risk of infection (administered by subcutaneous injection)...Read Here



August 9, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Many people with Hepatitis C are not getting available antiviral treatments that can help cure their disease. The largest disparity is seen in people on Medicaid, with less than a quarter receiving treatment within a year of diagnosis…Read Here



August 4, 2022 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - HHS declares the spread of monkeypox virus in the United States a Public Health Emergency (PHE)…Read Here




August 4, 2022 - National Institutes of Health - NIH clinical trial of L9LS monoclonal antibody for malaria prevention showed positive results…Read Here



August 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - August is National Immunization Awareness Month. CDC has provided a short quiz to help adults identify which vaccines they may need…Read Here



JULY



July 23, 2022 - World Health Organization - WHO declares the multi-country monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)…Read Here



July 6, 2022 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA authorizes state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid for the treatment of COVID-19 eligible patients, with certain limitations…Read Here



July 5, 2022 - National Institutes of Health - COVID-19 was third leading cause of death in the United States in both 2020 and 2021…Read Here



July 1, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC Investigates New Listeria Outbreak…Read Here



July 1, 2022 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - HHS has ordered 2.5 million additional doses of Jynneos (Bavarian Nordic A/S), a live vaccine for smallpox and monkeypox, for the national stockpile...Read Here




JUNE



June 24, 2022 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - HHS Secretary statement on today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization…Read Here



June 18, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC endorses the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that all children 6 months through 5 years of age should receive a COVID-19 vaccine (either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech)…Read Here



June 15, 2022 - U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - DEA Administrator hosts the ‘DEA Family Summit on the Overdose Epidemic’ for families from across the country who have experienced the profound loss of a child due to a drug overdose or poisoning…Read Here



June 14, 2022 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA has updated the notice for risk of Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections in patients who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery using heater-cooler devices…Read Here



June 9, 2022 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Manufacturer recalls some SnoreStop NasoSpray products due to microbial contamination…Read Here



June 9, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC currently recommends that people infected with monkeypox wear a mask if they must be around others in their homes if close, face-to-face contact is likely...Read Here



June 7, 2022 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Manufacturer recalls some Allergy Bee Gone for Kids nasal swab remedy products due to potential microbial contamination…Read Here



June 7, 2022 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Manufacturer recalls some Milk of Magnesia and Magnesium Hydroxide/Aluminum Hydroxide/Simethicone oral suspension products due to microbial contamination…Read Here



June 3, 2022 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Infant Formula Update: About 1.3 million cans (nearly 33 million, 8-ounce bottles) are expected beginning in July through October…Read Here



MAY


May 23, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Fourteen people in 12 states have reportedly been infected with Salmonella. Four of five people interviewed reported eating different types of Jif brand peanut butter before getting sick…Read Here

May 6, 2022 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - HHS has launched a toll-free hotline for expecting and new moms experiencing mental health challenges…Read Here


May 3, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC recommends that everyone aged 2 and older wear a mask or respirator on public transportation and in transportation hubs…Read Here


APRIL

April 18, 2022 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) included quality measures in a proposal to improve Maternal Health and Equity, as well as a proposed “Birthing-Friendly” hospital designation to “assist consumers in choosing hospitals that have demonstrated a commitment to maternal health through implementation of best practices that advance health care quality, safety, and equity for pregnant and postpartum patients”…Read Here

April 12, 2022 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Recall issued for specific batches of the unbranded Insulin Glargine (Insulin glargine-yfgn) Injection due to possible label missing on some vials…Read Here

April, 2022 - U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This bi-annual event offers free, anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwideRead Here


MARCH

March 29, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC recommends an additional mRNA COVID vaccine (Pfizer/Moderna) booster for certain immunocompromised people, people age 50 and older who received their last mRNA booster at least 4 months ago, as well as for adults who previously got the Johnson & Johnson version as their primary and booster at least 4 months ago…Read Here

March 8, 2022 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - COVID-19 Test to Treat Initiative would allow people to get tested, and receive a prescription for an oral antiviral (currently either Paxlovid or Molnupiravir) from a qualified health care provider if they test positive and the treatment is appropriate, and have their prescription filled at the same location (pharmacists will not prescribe)…Read Here

March 7, 2022 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Statement by HHS Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs Loyce Pace on International Women’s DayRead Here


FEBRUARY

February 18, 2022 - Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection - CT Medical Marijuana Program has increased monthly allotments for medical marijuana patients from 3.0 ounces to 3.5 ounces…Read Here

February 17, 2022 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA advises not to use Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas (first two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and the code on the container contains K8, SH or Z2; and the expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later, to avoid a possible serious Cronobacter or Salmonella infection…Read Here

February 15, 2022 - National Institutes of Health - Third known case of HIV remission in an individual who received a stem cell transplant according to research conducted by the IMPAACT NetworkRead Here

February 10, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - The updated Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids is now open to the public (patients, caregivers, providers) for comment in the Federal Register through April 1, 2022…Read Here


January

January 31, 2022 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Spikevax (Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine) for the prevention of COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older…Read Here

January 27, 2022 - National Institutes of Health - NIH study suggests Hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG) does not improve outcomes for adults hospitalized with COVID-19…Read Here

January 13, 2022 - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - SAMHSA supports the FDA’s recommendations to reduce the risk of tooth decay in people taking buprenorphine, such as swishing with water after buprenorphine completely dissolves, and brushing teeth one hour after taking the medication…Read Here

January 8, 2022 - U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA Authorizes Evusheld (tixagevimab + cilgavimab) monoclonal antibodies, for the prevention of COVID-19 in people 12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kilograms/88 pounds, and moderate to severely immunocompromised or unable to take a COVID-19 vaccine due to severe allergic reaction to the vaccines or vaccine components…Read Here

January 6, 2022 - National Institutes of Health - NIH study suggests COVID-19 vaccine during a single menstrual cycle may increase in cycle length by nearly one day…Read Here

January 5, 2022 - U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - CDC expands eligibility for booster doses to include adolescents 12 to 15 years old. They should receive a booster 5 months after completing the 2-dose Pfizer-BioNTech series…Read Here