Ghana Signs Agreement to Begin Production of Oral Cholera Vaccine

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The International Vaccine Institute (IVI), EuBiologics, and DEK Vaccines Limited (DEK) signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the fill and finish of oral cholera vaccine in Ghana.

 

Through this partnership DEK will be authorized to purchase, locally fill and finish, and distribute the oral cholera vaccine. 

 

As at July 2023, the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) data revealed an estimated 211, 643 cholera cases and 3, 953 deaths have been recorded in the region.

 

”I’m very happy with this partnership with IVI and EuBiologics through which we are going to make oral cholera vaccine in Accra, Ghana to supply Africa, and we hope to do this with typhoid conjugate vaccine as well. This partnership has been very important because it’s bringing technology to Africa, and we hope that we can continue to work closely with IVI and participate in technology transfer so that we can spread it across Africa for the benefit of Africans,” said Dr. Kofi Nsiah-Poku, the Managing Director, DEK, Accra, Ghana.

 

For more information on this report visit here. 

Genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Common in Men

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A recent the Lancet Global Health publication reveals 1 in 3 sexually active men over the age of 15 are infected with at least one Human Papillomavirus (HPV) strain. In addition, the study shows around 1 in 5 men are infected with one or more cancer causing high risk HPV strains.

 

This means men serve as reservoir for the virus, increasing the risk of their partners getting infected. If your male partner is a carrier of the virus, your chances of getting the viral infection is high.

 

Furthermore, the health implications for you is that as you take steps to vaccinate yourself and your female child, also immunize your husband and boys. This ensures the immune system of a man is empowered with antibodies to clear the HPV infection. Thus, women won’t easily get infected.

 

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for cervical cancer, throat and neck cancer, cancer of the penis, anal cancer, genital warts, just to mention a few.

 

However, there are effective vaccines that are available to enable you prevent infection by both the low and high risk HPV strains.

 

You can access the study via this link.

To find out how to get immunized against HPV contact us here. 

Stay Ahead of Respiratory Diseases

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Hello there,

Respiratory disease can be taxing to deal with. Would you want to know a bit about it?

 

It is any illness that affects the airways and lungs, impacting human respiration. Around 545 million people worldwide suffer from chronic respiratory disease, ranging from common colds to conditions like asthma, pneumonia, and influenza.

 

These diseases affect breathing, causing discomfort and reduced quality of life. Fortunately, vaccines, like for influenza, pneumonia, and COVID-19, helps prevent respiratory infections, reducing risks.

 

To breathe a sigh of relief, remain aware of these vital precautions.

 

TODAY’s FACT: Flu Unveiled!

“Influenza, or ‘flu’, is a contagious upper respiratory tract disease caused by the influenza viruses affecting the nose, throat, and lungs. It ranges from mild to severe, and potentially fatal. The virus spreads through coughing, sneezing, or talking, releasing infected droplets into the air. It can also be transmitted via contaminated surfaces and give symptoms like fever, headaches, sore-throat, body aches, and fatigue.

 

Vaccination is the most effective way in flu prevention, especially for the vulnerable-elderly, pregnant women, children under-five years, and those with chronic illnesses. The annual flu shot bolsters immunity against expected strains, easing symptom confusion with COVID-19 due to shared symptoms.

 

Maintain hygiene by covering of nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and wash hands regularly to curb virus spread”.

 

Want to be free from potential breathing difficulties?

 

BOOK NOW

 

Have a wonderful week.

PHARMACISTS IN FRANCE CAN NOW PRESCRIBE AND ADMINISTER VACCINES

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According to a publication in Vaccines Today, in France, trained pharmacists will be permitted to prescribe and administer vaccines.

 

Pharmacists played a major role in the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines, and they’ve been granted permission to administer shots against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis, flu, HPV, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal B, pneumococcal, varicella, shingles, yellow fever, and rabies.

 

The only exception will apply to the administration of live-attenuated vaccines to immunocompromised individuals.

 

For more information visit here.

WHY PAXLOVID REMAINS YOUR GO-TO MEDICINE AGAINST COVID

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Paxlovid the antiviral medication developed by Pfizer remains a very important tool in our fight against COVID-19. This medication is important in saving the lives of patients for several reasons.

 

First, Paxlovid is an effective oral medication against COVID. This means it can easily be self administered by patients if guided by knowledgeable healthcare professionals on the right use of the medication. The medication has shown to reduce hospitalization and death by 89.1% and 88.9%, respectively.

 

Secondly, the medicine has a short duration of treatment. A five days course has proven to be effective in preventing the virus from replicating. This reduces viral load and prevents complications due to the corona virus infection.

 

In addition, it can be taken by almost everyone and is readily accessible. The most serious drug-drug interactions associated with the medication use are interactions with rivaroxaban and salmeterol, respectively.

 

Lastly, it might just be a vital tool in managing Long COVID. Some experts assume Long COVID might be as a result of persistence of the virus in the body of its host. This means if you stop the virus from replicating, you’re going to get less amount of viral particles in the body of the patient.

 

For more information on how to use and access Paxlovid contact here.  

COURT DISMISSES APPLICATION AIMED AT PREVENTING PHARMACISTS FROM PRESCRIBING ANTIRETROVIRAL MEDICINES IN SOUTH AFRICA

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A Pretoria High Court dismisses application brought by a physician association (IPA Foundation) that aimed at preventing pharmacists from managing and prescribing medicines to patients with HIV and tuberculosis. 

 

The approval means Patients Living With HIV (PLWH) will have increased access to their medicines at pharmacies that are taking part in the Pharmacy Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Treatment (PIMART) program.

 

”The untapped value of pharmacists in fighting HIV was also emphasized by the efficient role pharmacies played in meeting healthcare needs and providing healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the Pretoria High Court Judge, Elmarie Van Der Schyff.

 

According to UNAIDS, an estimated 7 million South Africans children and adults are living with HIV.

 

For more information on this update visit here. 

PFIZER GETS APPROVAL FOR RSV VACCINE

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Pfizer gets the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for her vaccine against the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The vaccine will help protect infants, pregnant women, and individuals 60 years and above from the harmful effects of RSV.

 

RSV is a very infectious virus that affects the lungs and can lead to life threatening medical conditions like pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and congestive cardiac failure, if left untreated. Globally, every year, RSV is estimated to cause 33 million cases of infection and an estimated 199,000 deaths of children under five years.

 

‘This is a significant milestone in public health, its the first and only maternal immunization available to help pregnant women protect their infants from respiratory illnesses cause by the virus,’ says the Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, Albert Bourla.

 

For more information on this visit here. To learn more about the vaccine visit here. You can learn about our previous updates by visiting here.

 

HOW YOU SHOULD TAKE PAXLOVID MEDICATION

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Introduction

Paxlovid is an oral antiviral medication developed by Pfizer for the treatment of corona virus disease.

To get the benefits of the medication you will have to take it for the recommended period.

How is Paxlovid packaged

This simply is how the medication is packed in its pack and sachet.

One sachet of the antiviral medication contains nirmatrelvir 300 mg (two 150 mg tablets) co-packaged with 100 mg ritonavir tablet.

How do I take Paxlovid

 

The dosing recommendation or dose regimen is how you take the medication. This specifies the quantity of the medication you should take, the number of times in a day you should take it, and for how long. This determines whether you will get the benefits of the medication.

 

You’re advised to take two tablets of nirmatrelvir and one tablet of ritonavir. All three tablets should be taken together twice daily (every 12 hours) for a period of five days. This means you should take your first dose either in the morning or evening. This depends on the time your healthcare professional recommends.

 

The manufacturers recommend you consider the following when taking Paxlovid:

  • Do not remove your PAXLOVID tablets from the blister card before you are ready to take your dose
  • All tablets in a dose should be taken at once or one right after the other
  • Swallow tablets whole. Do not break, chew, or crush the tablets
  • PAXLOVID can be taken with or without food

 

For further information on how to get Paxlovid please contact us on 08160962414 or visit here for assistance.

You can read our previous article on three things you should know about Paxlovid here.

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PAXLOVID AND LONG COVID

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Research findings says people who took Paxlovid are less likely to have long COVID symptoms. The article was published in March 2023 in JAMA Internal Medicine. It revealed that high-risk patients who took Paxlovid within five days of confirming infection for COVID-19 were 26% less likely to have Long COVID symptoms after 90 days, compared to people who weren’t treated. 

 

Long COVID are myriad of symptoms experienced by people after recovering from COVID-19. The study followed through on more than 35,000 patients who took Paxlovid for a six month period. This research was of great importance as the medical community debates what causes Long COVID, and contributes to the understanding of the symptoms and possible causes.

 

Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and co-author of the JAMA study on Paxlovid, said: ” Despite the unknowns, certain patients may want to pursue Paxlovid prescriptions. For people at high risk of severe COVID-19, who already stand to benefit from Paxlovid, the possibility of preventing Long COVID is an added bonus.”

 

For more information on the JAMA study on Paxlovid visit here.

For information and assistance on how to get Paxlovid please call +2348160962414 or visit here.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PAXLOVID APPROVAL

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   Jennifer Lorenzini/Reuters

 

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Paxlovid for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19. In a press release On May 25, 2023, the FDA granted Pfizer approval for its antiviral medication for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. The decision means the medication met regulatory safety and efficacy standards, and allows the Pfizer’s drug to remain on the market indefinitely.

 

Paxlovid is an important medication for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus in adults older than 50 and people with certain underlying medical conditions like diabetes, heart conditions, cancer or a weak immune system, amongst others. The data showed that Paxlovid significantly reduced the proportion of people with COVID-19 related hospitalization or death from any cause through 28 days of follow-up by 86% compared to placebo among patients treated within five days of symptom onset and who did not receive COVID-19 therapeutic monoclonal antibody treatment. In this analysis, 977 patients received Paxlovid, and 989 patients received placebo, and among these patients, 0.9% who received Paxlovid were hospitalized due to COVID-19 or died from any cause during 28 days of follow-up compared to 6.5% of the patients who received the placebo.

 

Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, director for the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said: ”Today’s approval demonstrates that Paxlovid has met the agency’s rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness, and that it remains an important treatment option for people at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including those with prior immunity.”

 

For further information on Paxlovid FDA approval visit here.

For information and assistance on how to get Paxlovid please call +2348160962414 or visit here.