Retail Clinics

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway pharmacies in California are responding to the state's whooping cough (pertussis) emergency and now are offering Adacel, a booster vaccine for people ages 11 through 64 years, the grocer announced Wednesday.

The Adacel vaccine is available at all Safeway, Vons and Pavilions pharmacies on a walk-in basis, the company stated.

BALTIMORE, Md. Lupin Pharmaceuticals received regulatory approval last week for its generic antihypertensive agents, the drug maker said.

Lupin was granted final approval for hydrochlorothiazide-losartan potassium and losartan potassium, the generic versions of Merck's Hyzaar and Cozaar.

Hyzaar and Cozaar had combined annual sales of approximately $1.6 billion in the United States, based on IMS sales data for the 12 months ended in June.

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash., and PORTLAND, Ore. Two health insurers in the northwest are taking steps to change the dynamics of preventive health reimbursement and broaden the role pharmacies play in flu vaccination efforts.

The two plans, Premera Blue Cross of Washington state and LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon, have announced new programs that both plans said will “remove barriers to care by providing improved access to common immunizations at pharmacies.”

NEW YORK A new study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that the nation's average larger waist circumference is an indicator as to why the diabetes rate in America is higher than the rate in England.

James Smith, corporate chair of economics at the nonprofit organization RAND Corp., and researchers found that American men's waists were an average of 3 cm (1.5 in.) larger than those of men in England. Similarly, American women's waists were an average of 5 cm (2 in.) larger than those of women in England.

LAS VEGAS Professional Therapy MuscleCare last month was awarded “best new product” at the ECRM Health Management EPPS held here. The award, sponsored by Drug Store News, is presented to the manufacturer that collects the most “best new product” votes from retailers attending the event.

As part of its initial rollout, MuscleCare has penned a sponsorship deal with the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic, a group of sports chiropractors from 30 countries that treat Olympic and nationally ranked athletes.

DEERFIELD, Ill. Underscoring its determination to be the nation’s premier source of flu immunization services, Walgreens on Thursday revealed it is working with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases to educate the public and health professionals about flu prevention resources. In addition, Walgreens has joined with Families Fighting Flu, a nonprofit organization of families and healthcare practitioners, to heighten flu awareness and encourage vaccinations for children and families.

WASHINGTON The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Wednesday joined forces to kick off their annual National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month to raise awareness of the dangers of youth prescription and over-the-counter medicine abuse.

This initiative, annually held in October, features a coordinated and concentrated effort to educate parents and youth of the potential dangers associated with prescription and OTC medicine abuse.

TEL AVIV, Israel A new Tel Aviv University study found a test used to diagnose gestational diabetes in women could be a key indicator to diagnosing Type 2 diabetes.