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Top Headlines

Sore throat becoming most common COVID-19 symptom 

Signs of winter COVID-19 surge grow

Biden urges healthcare providers to prepare for end of COVID-19 public health emergency

• PHE Extended an Additional 90 days until January

CDC drops universal masking guidelines for healthcare workers

Vaccines Update

CDC updates definition of "fully vaccinated"

Moderna and Pfizer EUA Amended

The FDA has amended the EUAs of Moderna’s bivalent COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech’s bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to authorize their use as a single booster dose in younger age groups.

Moderna’s is authorized for administration at least two months following completion of primary or booster vaccination in children down to six years of age.

Pfizer’s is authorized for administration at least two months following completion of primary or booster vaccination in children down to five years of age.

Following this decision, the CDC expanded the use of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 5 through 11 years for the Pfizer vaccine and children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years for the Moderna vaccine.

Save the Date!

IPA Legislative Day

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Statehouse

Registration opening in December

IPA Annual Meeting

March 2-3, 2023

Ritz Charles, Carmel, IN

Novavax Booster Authorized

The FDA also authorized Novavax's booster vaccine which is for people 18 and older who can’t get the updated omicron-targeting Pfizer or Moderna boosters for medical or accessibility reasons -- or who otherwise would not receive a COVID-19 booster shot at all.

The FDA specified the additional Novavax shot was to be used as a first booster -- not for people who've already had one or more booster doses already — at least six months after completing their primary shots.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared a shortage of Adderall^® as pharmacies across the nation are struggling to fill patients’ prescriptions. FDA published a list of the manufacturers and product strengths that are still available and will continue to monitor the supply. 

IPA has created a resource for patients and pharmacies affected by the TRICARE contract dispute. Sixteen Senators, including Iowa Senator Charles Grassley, signed a letter to Seileen Mullen, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, asking for answers regarding reimbursement by Express Scripts for in-network pharmacies of TRICARE beneficiaries.

On October 24, approximately 15,000 community pharmacies will leave the TRICARE retail network due to the reduction in reimbursement. This will impact nearly 400,000 beneficiaries. Express Scripts reports the TRICARE retail network states there will be an in-network pharmacy within a 15-minute drive of 90% of beneficiaries. 

BT202289 – IHCP to expand age ranges for Novavax COVID-19 vaccine and administration procedure codes

Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mike Braun (R-IN) wrote a letter to HHS Secretary Becerra urging the HHS OIG to increase enforcement on drug manufacturers who violate the 340B drug pricing program. The letter specifically mentioned that OIG is authorized to impose certain penalties against manufacturers that knowingly and intentionally overcharge 340B hospitals and health centers. The letter mentions that in summer 2020, nine drug companies started unlawfully denying 340B discounts to hospitals, health centers, and clinics that contract with community pharmacies to dispense drugs to their patients and urges HHS OIG to take any necessary actions against the manufacturers.



FDA approves 1st whooping cough vaccine for use in pregnancy to protect newborns Full story