Because of the prevalence of apps and connected devices transferring health data, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is offering clarity on the Health Breach Notification Rule. According to a statement from the agency, the rule ensures that entities not covered by the Health insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) still face consequences when health data is compromised. It requires vendors of personal health records (PHR) and PHR-related entities must notify consumers and the FTC, and possibly the media, if unsecured identifiable health information is breached or face civil penalties. It also covers these entities’ service providers. Simply put, the statement says those entities covered by the rule which have experienced breaches cannot hide this from the consumers who have trusted them with [...]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its advisers still must recommend how the extra shots will be used The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized a Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus booster shot for people 65 and older and adults at risk of severe illness, an effort to bolster protection for the most vulnerable Americans against the highly transmissible delta variant of the virus.In addition to older Americans, boosters should be made available to people 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe illness from the coronavirus and those “whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure” to the virus puts them at high risk of serious complications from the disease caused by the virus, the agency said. The [...]

Tammy Busch, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a clinical pharmacist at Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital and was an MSHP/MPA member from 2016-2018 and rejoined in 2021. Describe Your Role/Day in the Life: I work in a small community hospital which also has an attached long-term care facility and an infusion center. On any given day, I am verifying orders for inpatients, dosing antibiotics and anticoagulants, monitoring chemotherapy orders, attending care conferences and performing chart review for the long-term care residents, performing medication reconciliation, and checking outpatient prescriptions for employees. We work closely with all members of the patient-care team in each area to best address patient needs and help prevent readmission. Why You’re an MSHP/MPA Member: I am a member of [...]

Strong immune memory lasted in all age groups tested after receiving the Moderna vaccine, including individuals over 70 years of age who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19. A low dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna elicits immunity for at least 6 months, according to researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. Notably, the researchers also found no indications that vaccinated people will need a booster shot. Although the data found that the vaccine elicited strong CD4-positive T cells, CD8-positive T cells, and antibody responses for at least 6 months after vaccination in a clinical trial, the researchers said immune responses would likely last much longer. This strong immune memory lasted in all age groups tested, including individuals over [...]

The recommendation is not binding. A decision about boosters from the FDA is expected this week Expert advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously Friday to recommend that the agency authorize a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine six months after vaccination for people 65 years and older and for anyone at risk for severe illness. The vote is not binding, and Peter Marks, the FDA official overseeing coronavirus vaccines, indicated that the final decision could be slightly different, encompassing people who are at higher risk of infection because of their professions, such as health-care workers and front-line employees, including teachers. The advisory committee members were polled on whether they would agree with making boosters available to [...]