PHARMACOM LLC

A Consulting Company

May 2020

Vaccine Rates Drop Due to Coronavirus Fears

Fear of coronavirus exposure may be causing parents to delay well-child checkups and vaccinations. Data from 1,000 pediatric practices were used to compare vaccinations during the weeks of February 16 (before coronavirus) and April 5 (after coronavirus). MMR vaccination declined 50%, diphtheria and whooping cough vaccination declined 42%, and HPV vaccination declined 73%. Pediatricians are concerned that delaying vaccination will lead to outbreaks of measles, whooping cough, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

CDC Releases 2020 Immunization Schedules

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has updated immunization schedules for children, adolescents, and adults. The updated schedules are available at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html.

New Boxed Warnings for Montelukast

The FDA is strengthening existing warnings about serious behavior and mood changes with montelukast (Singulair and generic versions). Montelukast is prescribed to prevent asthma attacks and to control nasal symptoms related to seasonal allergies. Product labeling will now include boxed warnings about the risks of neuropsychiatric events such as agitation, aggression, depression, sleep disturbances, and suicidal thoughts and behavior. For patients taking montelukast for seasonal allergies, the benefits may not outweigh these risks. The FDA is recommending that montelukast be reserved for patients who cannot tolerate or cannot be treated effectively with other allergy medicines.

Risk of Fracture Increases in Overweight Children

Preschool children who are overweight are at greater risk of bone fractures compared to preschool children who are normal weight. Nearly 470,000 children living in Spain were evaluated at 4 years of age and followed until 15 years of age, from 2003 to 2013. Compared to children who were normal weight, children who were overweight or obese at age 4 were more likely to have upper limb and lower limb fractures during the follow-up period. Fracture rates were higher in obese children than overweight children. These results confirm known associations between obesity and increased fractures in adults and suggest that interventions to treat obesity in early childhood may help prevent fractures in later childhood.

May 6-12 is National Nurses Week

May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month