As the opioid epidemic flourished across the country between 2006 and 2012, Connecticut’s pharmacies dispensed more than 675 million opioid-based pills.
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Shingles vaccine scarce in Conn. shortage to continue
A new vaccine to protect against a painful disease known as shingles is a victim of its own success and nearly impossible to find in Connecticut and many parts of the United States. Although the vaccine’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline, says it has stepped up production of Shingrix, shortages are expected to continue through next year.
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Pharmacists offer overdose-reversing drug, but say demand muted
Some customers thank Ed Schreiner for making naloxone available at his pharmacy. The bin with brochures about the drug, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, is often empty. But since last year, only about a dozen people have asked Schreiner to prescribe the drug. Other pharmacists said they’ve been similarly surprised by the low demand, given the state’s ongoing opioid crisis.
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For some new Medicaid clients, delays getting care, prescriptions
People who are deemed eligible for Medicaid get a letter to use as proof of coverage until their insurance ID cards arrive, but some have found that pharmacies and doctors won’t accept it, leaving them unable to get care or medication.
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CVS will stop selling tobacco products
CVS Caremark announced Wednesday that its stores will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products by Oct. 1, saying the products are inconsistent with the pharmacy chain’s role in the health care system.