News Switches to dry powder inhalers could halve carbon footprint, study results suggest Patients switched to a dry powder inhaler produced 132kg less annual carbon dioxide equivalent than those using metred-dose inhalers, and had better asthma control.…Published: 7 February 2022
Opinion Class action: how we are improving the treatment of asthma by going into schools Respiratory pharmacist Dave Edwards took asthma reviews into primary schools to better educate and involve children in their asthma care.…Published: 2 February 2022
News Government to consult on scrapping mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for frontline NHS staff The government has proposed removing the requirement for frontline NHS staff in England to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as the Omicron variant presents lower risks of hospitalisation and mortality.…Published: 1 February 2022
News High-risk adults can now book their fourth COVID-19 jab All eligible patients will be able to book a fourth vaccination through the online system, as opposed to previous rounds when they waited to be invited.…Published: 1 February 2022
News Government recommends Paxlovid as first-line treatment for eligible COVID-19 patients New guidance advises that patients who test positive for COVID-19 following their admission to hospital should be offered Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir + ritonavir) first.…Published: 28 January 2022
News Around 5,000 courses of molnupiravir dispensed in England in first month of use A further 5,000 vials of the monoclonal antibody sotrovimab have been dispensed for the treatment of COVID-19, up to 16 January 2022.…Published: 25 January 2022
News Pharmacist antibiotic use doubles after sore throat testing requirement is removed Data from the Welsh community pharmacy Sore Throat Test and Treat (STTT) service show that antibiotic prescribing increased from 27% to 63% during the COVID-19 pandemic.…Published: 21 January 2022
News World Health Organization recommends JAK inhibitor for treatment of severe or critical COVID-19 The monoclonal antibody sotrovimab has also been conditionally recommended for treating mild or moderate COVID-19 in patients who are at high risk of hospitalisation.…Published: 17 January 2022
News High-risk COVID-19 patients may need to seek out own referral for community-based treatment after ‘data mismatch’ Patients eligible for COVID-19 medicines delivery unit treatment are advised to contact their GP or NHS 111 for a referral if they have not been contacted within 24 hours of their positive test result.…Published: 7 January 2022
News Pfizer COVID-19 antiviral paxlovid authorised by MHRA Paxlovid is the second oral antiviral to be approved for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in high-risk adults, after molnupiravir.…Published: 4 January 2022
