6065 Barfield Road, Suite 100 • Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328 • (404) 231-5074

SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19

• Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine Receives FDA Approval
• CDC Tells Pharmacies to Give 4th Covid Shots to Immunocompromised Patients
• CDC updated mask guidelines 1-14-22
• Georgia DPH Information Sessions 12-2-21 and 12-3-21, Molnupiravir
• CDC Update Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccinations
• COVID-19 Pills from Merc and Pfizer
• CDC Authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 Children Ages 5-11
• FDA Authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 Children Ages 5-11
• COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Ages 5-11
• Moderna Expiry Lot Checker 
• FDA Authorizes Boosters of Moderna and J&J Vaccines, Mix & Match OK
• Mixing Vaccines
• Molnupiravir COCID-19 Pill
• FDA Approves Pfizer Booster 9-22-21
• COVID-19 Update, Georgia DPH 9-14-21
• Pfizer-BioNTech Shelf-Life Extension
• CDC Health Advisory Ivermectin
• CMS Expands Medicare Payments for At-Home COVID-19 Vaccinations
• J&J vaccine to resume in the US (April 2021)
• The U.S Pharmacopeia (USP) rapidly engaged stakeholders and convened experts to identify and help address operational efficiency gaps across U.S. states and territories to help increase COVID-19 vaccinations.  Read their Covid-19 Vaccine Handling Toolkit.
• Multilingual Resources
• Read about vaccinating pregnant individuals.
• Georgia DPH expands vaccine eligibility – read press release.
• Georgia DPH press release about the vaccine dashboard on their website. 
• Sign up to be on the volunteer list. 
• ICYMI- Feb. 4, 2021 letter to providers from Kathleen Toomey, MD, MPH, Commissioner, Georgia DPH
• The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination is a collaboration between the federal government, states and territories, and 21 national pharmacy partners and independent pharmacy networks. Program overview, eligibility, allocation, and collaboration between pharmacy partners, CDC, and state, local, and territorial public health organizations. Frequently asked questions.
• Are COVID-19 vaccines developed from stem cells?  
• Vaccination record card, in case you run out. 
• South African coronavirus variant: All your questions answered.
• Find a vaccination location for healthcare providers.
• Find a vaccination location for patients.
• See comparisons for SARS-CoV-2 variants: A brief guide by The Scientist to the most noteworthy mutations in the novel coronavirus.
• Downloadable Excel spreadsheet template for COVID-19 vaccine inventory tracking.
• COVID-19 Vaccine Handling Tool Kit
• Report COVID-19 Vaccine billing issues here. With many new aspects to billing for the COVID vaccine at play, NCPA has developed a new tool for pharmacies to report issues they may encounter with either medical benefit or prescription benefit claims. These reports will be monitored and aggregated to identify systematic issues being faced by pharmacies across the country as they serve their patients and communities. NCPA appreciates the input and collaboration from APhA and state pharmacy associations on this effort. 
• Stay up to date with weekly Q&A with the Georgia DPH. View recordings of past sessions and register for upcoming sessions here.  
• Georgia DPH COVID-19 Vaccine Ordering Guidance (1/5/21)
• If you’re looking for a COVID Vaccination Site in your location, be sure to check back often as the COVID Vaccination Site Locations list will be updated frequently. Additional locations statewide will be added when providers are ready to safely administer vaccine, and as vaccine supply allows.
• CDC Pharmacy Partner Programs for COVID-19 Vaccination
• AAP Immunization Resources: Storage and Handling Series Data Loggers and Vaccine Monitoring
• Two new ways to register for COVID-19 vaccine in Northwest Georgia now available. 
• Starting Monday, January 11, 2021, adults aged 65+ and their caregivers will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination as a part of phase 1A+.  Continue to visit the DPH website to review the Georgia COVID-19 Vaccine Status Dashboard and obtain important vaccine-related information. READ MORE ABOUT IT. See Vaccine Ordering Guidance 1-7-21.
• COVID-19 Vaccines – Safe. Tested. Effective. Read about Georgia’s COVID-19 vaccine plan. See Vaccine Orders List to find out vaccination locations (right side column pdf download).  Georgia COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 1-888-357-0169. Please visit the following link for the Provider Vaccine Registration – Public Health District List: https://dph.georgia.gov/provider-vaccine-registration-ph-district-list.
• Vaccine Administration Techniques: Preventing Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
• A Roadmap for Pharmacy Leaders on the COVID-19 Vaccination Journey, a great article by Phuoc Anne Nguyen PharmD, MS, BCPS and Tracy Nell Dabbs, PharmD, EP Pharmacist, Division of Health Protection, Section of Emergency.
• COVID-19 testing by public health in North Georgia will soon change. New focus shift from testing to vaccinating.
• More Georgians to become eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine. GDPH news release.
• Over the past several months, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued several Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) declarations and guidance documents related to pharmacy-based COVID-19 care and services. Read more about it on the GPhA website: https://www.gpha.org/understanding-the-prep-act/
• Demystifying COVID-19 testing. Great document put out by APhA 
• CDC updates Considerations for Pharmacies during the COVID-19 Pandemic document
• FDA issues temporary policy for non-standard PPE practices for compounders
• COVID-19 UPDATE SUMMARY DOCUMENT – This information was sent out to all GPhA members on 4/6/2020. It contains a summary of the Governor’s Executive Order, BoP regulation additions/changes, and GPhA actions.
• NEW! 4/3/2020 CDC Issues Considerations for Pharmacies during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: How can pharmacists help? Article from sciencedirect.com
• Important Document – Guidance from the Georgia Board of Pharmacy related to the Governor’s Executive Order on March 20, 2020*

Do you need information about personal protective equipment?

• Start at getusppe.org.
• Compounding pharmacies can reach out to Tracy Tabbs at the DPH at (470) 409-3370 or e-mail her at Tracy.Dabbs@dph.ga.gov.

Georgia is under a state of emergency:

• Pharmacists in Georgia can dispense 90-day refills and early 30-day refills, except for controls.
• Out of state pharmacists will be allowed to operate inside the state.
• The Board of Pharmacy is allowing mail delivery: CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS (PDF)
• It is also allowing “remote order processing” — “the processing of prescription
  or patient information from a location other than the location from which the
  prescription medication is received and dispensed.” CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS (PDF)

The Department of Public Health is available to answer questions.

• Patients/consumers can call the DPH’s CoviD-19 Hotline: (844) 442-2681
• Pharmacists can call Tracy Nell Dabbs at (470) 409-3370 or e-mail her at Tracy.Dabbs@dph.ga.gov.
• Pharmacies that are in need of PPE can reach out to their local district health department for assistance as a resource request.  The pharmacy will need to provide identified justification  for the request.  The request can include Tracy’s name as a point of contact in case clarification is needed for the request.
• Pharmacists can also call 1-866-PUB-HLTH to speak with a medical epidemiologist. 

So is the CDC; its Emergency Operations Center for Healthcare Professionals: (770) 488-7100

General info about what’s going on in Georgia:

• There is currently no statewide lockdown, but some individual cities and counties are requiring residents to shelter at home.
• Governor Kemp has ordered that all bars and nightclubs statewide be closed, and he has prohibited some gatherings of 10 or more people.
• Physicians with lapsed or inactive licenses can practice, and nursing students can apply for temporary licenses. (READ MORE)

Coronavirus in Georgia

Get the latest overall updates on Georgia from Live Science: CLICK HERE

The Department of Public Health issues a detailed daily update: CLICK HERE

Making your own hand sanitizer

Yes, you can make it. The FDA “does not intend to take action against compounders that prepare alcohol-based hand sanitizers for consumer use and for use as health care personnel hand rubs for the duration of the public health emergency.” (Link)

The Georgia Department of Public Health also allows this “given that the components are all over-the-counter products.” (Link)

The FDA’s recipe:

• Alcohol (ethanol) (80%, volume/volume (v/v)) in an aqueous solution denatured according to Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulations in 27 CFR part 20;
  or Isopropyl Alcohol (75%, v/v) in an aqueous solution.
• Glycerol (1.45% v/v).
• Hydrogen peroxide (0.125% v/v).
• Sterile distilled water or boiled cold water

Are there any drugs or treatments?

Not yet.

The most promising treatment is remdesivir (phase 3 trial) and a danoprevir/ritonavir cocktail (phase 1 trial). Chloroquine is not yet part of a clinical trial despite the attention it has been getting.

The most promising vaccines are in the hands of Moderna and CanSino, both of which are in phase 1 trials.

Stat News has the full list of what’s in trial and at what stage: CLICK HERE

The Sanford Guide explains:

• Therapy is predominantly supportive care.
• No specific antiviral therapy is known to be effective.

Patients may ask…

What are the symptoms of CoviD-19?

Per the WHO: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.

What should I do if I think I’ve been exposed?

The CDC has details: CLICK HERE

In brief:

Until you are tested, avoid contact with other people. Wash your hands thoroughly and disinfect any objects you have touched that others might contact. The average incubation period is about 5.1 days. You need to remain isolated that long to see if you develop symptoms

Contact your local health authority (county or state department of health) or hospital to ask whether testing is available. Chances are testing is not available and you will need to wait to see if you develop symptoms.

What should I do if I develop symptoms?

The CDC has details: CLICK HERE

Contact your local health authority (county or state department of health) or hospital to ask whether testing is available. If not, self-quarantine and keep in touch with those authorities until you can be tested.

Continue to isolate yourself and avoid contact with other people. Wash your hands thoroughly and disinfect any objects you have touched that others might contact. If you can, wear a mask or cloth covering over your mouth and nose to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Coronavirus in general

The World Health Organization has the best overall information about the virus: CLICK HERE

The CDC also has good, general information: CLICK HERE

The Internet Book of Critical Care has detailed, medical (i.e., non-layperson) information about the virus and the disease: CLICK HERE

Information for community pharmacies

The NCPA has detailed tips, tools, and resources for community pharmacies: CLICK HERE

It also has links for the employment side of the issue: CLICK HERE

Technical guidance

Guidance from the WHO for healthcare workers: CLICK HERE
Includes infection prevention, sanitation, protective equipment, and more

The CDC has information specifically for healthcare professionals:

• CDC information for healthcare professionals
• CDC clinical care information for healthcare professionals
• CDC COVID-19 Information for Long-Term Care Centers
• Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations 
• CDC info if you’ve been exposed to patients with CoviD-19
• Risk Stratification Assessment Table

So does CMS:

• Infection Control Guidance for Hospitals
• Infection Control Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities
• Infection Control Guidance for Hospice Agencies
• Infection Control Guidance for Home Health Agencies
• Infection Control Guidance for Dialysis Facilities
• New Lab Testing Codes for Coronavirus