Latest news with #WalgreensPharmacy
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
San Juan pediatrician talks vaccines, measles precautions
Vials of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are displayed on a counter at a Walgreens Pharmacy on January 26, 2015 in Mill Valley, California. (Photo by Illustration) Earlier this week, a young child in San Juan County with one dose of the measles vaccine contracted the measles on a domestic flight, putting area doctors on watch for more cases. 'I would say we're in a cautious holding pattern,' Dr. Brad Scoggins, a pediatrician based in Farmington, told Source New Mexico. 'We're appropriately concerned, but not panicked.' Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus, spreads through contact with airborne droplets from an infected person's coughs and sneezes. Symptoms can take one to three weeks tos develop, and include headache, cough, fever, red eyes and a spotty red rash on the head and face that spreads across the body. New Mexico health officials report measles exposures in San Juan, Lea county hospitals Scoggins said the clinic has enacted increased precautions to prevent spread, such as using virtual visits or testing any cases with symptoms of fever and rash outside of the clinic. The New Mexico Department of Health reported no change in the state's number of cases Friday, but public health officials have recently warned they expect a rise in cases due to summer travel. Much like cases across the U.S., over 80% of New Mexico's 81 measles infections impacted people who are unvaccinated or of unknown status. However, 13 cases of New Mexico's included patients with at least one dose of the vaccine. One dose of the measles vaccine offers 93% protection from infection and a second dose offers higher protection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When spread increases, measles can sometimes infect vaccinated people, but but with less severity, because the vaccine primes the body's defense system to fight it, Scoggins said. 'In real world terms, that means that the duration of illness is a bit shorter, and the severity is less,' he said. '[Measles, mumps rubella] vaccine is considered a sterilizing vaccine. So once you've had the vaccination, you should theoretically not be able to transmit it — or at least, it's much less likely.' Scoggins said he empathizes with parents who are concerned about safety and efficacy of vaccines, despite decades of research. 'There's a whole lot of noise out there right now, and it's hard for parents to know, I think, who to listen to,' he said. Scoggins said he's working to counter misinformation by pointing people to works of history including 'The Great Influenza' on the 1918 flu epidemic and 'Man and Microbes,' a history of plagues. 'It offers a little bit of a historical perspective because we live in a time where we're so protected from these things, but it's only because of what our forebears have instituted,' he said. Scoggins said that vaccine advice doesn't just apply to his patients, noting his own children have vaccinations, as do all 12 of the pediatricians and nurse practitioners in his office with children. 'All of our kids have had their vaccines on their regular schedule,' he said. 'We don't do anything for other people's kids that we wouldn't do for our own. Officials from San Juan County Regional Medical Center urged patients to call the NMDOH hotline at 1-833-796-8773, with any questions about testing, vaccines or symptoms. 'The best thing our community can do to protect themselves is to get vaccinated against the measles,' said Laura Werbner, a spokesperson at San Juan County Regional Medical Center. 'Talk to your pediatrician about the measles vaccine for your children. If you are an adult and have not been vaccinated, you can still get the vaccine.' More information about free vaccine clinics can be found at the state's measles webpage. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pharmacy tech fired for dispensing errors sues Walgreens, citing ADHD as a factor
An Iowa pharmacy tech fired for medication-dispensing errors is suing her former employer. (Photo via Getty Images) An Iowa pharmacy tech fired for medication-dispensing errors is suing her former employer, claiming her attention-deficit disorder was a factor in her job performance. Saleena Gooch is suing Walgreens Pharmacy in U.S District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. The lawsuit alleges the Walgreens store at 2508 W. Broadway, Council Bluffs, hired Gooch in January 2019 as a shift lead and in 2020 transferred her the store's pharmacy, where she worked as a customer service associate, pharmacy technician and pharmacy operations manager. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In July 2024, the lawsuit claims, Gooch was working in the store when the pharmacist on duty handed her a prescription order and instructed her to sell the medication to a waiting customer. Gooch allegedly followed the pharmacist's directions, called out the name on the prescription order and the waiting customer responded. She then asked the customer to verify, on a display screen, the telephone number associated with the order, to which the customer responded, 'That is not my number.' Gooch reportedly asked the customer whether the displayed number could be an old phone number, and the customer indicated he didn't think so, but then confirmed for Gooch the name of the medication included in the order. Later in the day, another customer arrived and asked for the same prescription order Gooch had already sold, triggering an internal investigation as to what had transpired. At some point after that incident, the lawsuit claims, Walgreens failed to review its proposed disciplinary action against Gooch in order to 'take into consideration her diagnosis' of ADHD, and her employment was terminated. According to the lawsuit, Gooch had previously been involved in other cases involving errors in dispensing medication. In October 2023, she had sold a prescription order, presumably to the wrong customer, in a situation where two different customers had the same first and last names. In March 2024, a pharmacist instructed Gooch to ring up a prescription order despite the fact that the courier picking up the order was doing so for multiple customers and could not verify the customer information requested of him. It was later determined that one of the prescription orders was intended for a different individual. A few weeks after that incident, in April 2024, Gooch sold a prescription order to another individual who was picking up multiple orders for different people. One prescription bag became stuck to another bag and was presumably sold despite a lack of verification as to that person's identity. It was after the incidents in March and April of 2024, the lawsuit alleges, that Walgreens management instructed Gooch to be tested for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and she was later diagnosed with the disorder. Her lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for alleged violations of state and federal laws prohibiting employers from discriminating against an individual on the basis of a physical or mental disability, such as ADHD. Walgreens has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. State records indicate Gooch's pharmacy technician license is in good standing with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, with no history of public disciplinary action. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Some schools cancel band trip to Williston because of measles cases; parade to go on
Vials of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are displayed on a counter at a Walgreens Pharmacy on Jan. 26, 2015. (Photo by Illustration) Bands from Minot middle schools have canceled their planned trip to the Williston Band Day parade Saturday due the measles outbreak, according to a message sent to Minot-area parents from school administrators. 'We understand this news may be disappointing for our young musicians who were looking forward to this event,' the message states. 'We share in their disappointment and want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly. It was made out of an abundance of caution to protect the health of our students and families.' As of Friday afternoon, North Dakota's confirmed measles case total remains at nine, all of which are in Williams County. The first confirmed case of measles in North Dakota was reported May 2, with three additional cases confirmed over the weekend. That total increased to nine cases Tuesday, including potential measles exposures to three Williams County schools. All nine cases are people who were not vaccinated. Williston Basin School District 7 required about 180 unvaccinated students to quarantine for 21 days. That number has dropped to 150 after some parents provided proof of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for their children, said Paula Lankford, spokesperson for the district. Those students will be allowed to return to in-person instruction. No new confirmed measles cases over the last three days is a good thing, said Molly Howell, immunization director for the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, but it does not mean the state is out of the woods yet. About 180 students under quarantine amid measles outbreak in Williams County 'The incubation period for measles, the time period from when you were exposed to when you develop the disease, can be as long as 21 days,' Howell said. Howell said to declare an outbreak officially over, two full incubation periods must pass with no new cases, which for measles would be 42 days. Lankford said the annual Band Day Parade on Saturday will continue as scheduled with more than a dozen bands from across the state and the drum line for the New York Giants participating in the event. 'At this point, as a city or school district, nothing is being canceled, postponed or held back in any of the plans,' she said. Lankford added that high school sports and other afterschool activities were not affected by the quarantine. In a notice posted to its website, the city of Williston shared North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services guidance that recommends 'all residents and travelers to Williams County ensure they are vaccinated against measles.' Residents wishing to not attend the parade and remain home due to safety concerns can watch a livestream of Saturday's Williston Band Day parade through the Williston Convention and Visitors Bureau Facebook page. Lankford also said there have been no issues in providing course materials to the students under the 21-day quarantine to ensure they can complete the school year. The last day of school for the district will be May 23. The measles outbreak prompted the Upper Missouri District Health Unity to host special walk-in vaccination clinics in Williston on Thursday and Friday. Daphne Clark, spokesperson for the Upper Missouri District Health Unit, said the organization administered about 120 MMR immunizations on Thursday and, as of Friday afternoon, the foot traffic at the walk-in site had been 'steady all day.' 'We're seeing a lot of those 6-month to the 11-month (kids) getting that first dose and then that 12-month and older getting that second dose early,' Clark said. She said some attendees were also getting caught up on other vaccinations, such as COVID-19 immunizations, while they attended the clinic. The Upper Missouri District Health Unit holds regular walk-in vaccination clinic days at its Williston office on Thursdays from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its weekly measles cases on Friday and reported an additional 66 measles cases were confirmed this week, bringing the nationwide total to 1,001 confirmed cases across 30 states. Of those cases, 30%, 299 cases, involve children under the age of 5. School-age children between ages 5 to 19 represent 38% of the total measles cases nationwide. Hospitalizations were required in 13% of all measles cases across the country. Children under 5 years of age accounted for more than half of the total hospitalizations. Three deaths have been connected to the nationwide measles outbreak. None of the deaths involve cases in North Dakota. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
North Dakota confirms 3 new measles cases, bringing total to 4
Vials of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are displayed on a counter at a Walgreens Pharmacy on Jan. 26, 2015. (Photo by Illustration) North Dakota now has four confirmed measles cases, the Department of Health and Human Services said Monday. All four cases are in Williams County in northwest North Dakota involving people who were not vaccinated, said Molly Howell, immunization director for the department. The department announced Friday the first confirmed case, a Williams County child who is believed to have contracted measles from an out-of-state visitor. The three additional cases are people who had contact with the child, Howell said. The cases are the first reemergence of measles in North Dakota since 2011, Howell said. A North Dakotan tested positive for measles in 2018, but after additional testing, the department confirmed that person did not have the illness, Howell said. 'Our advice to anyone in North Dakota is to be up to date with your immunizations, especially the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine,' Howell said. 'Everyone starting at 12 to 15 months of age should receive their first dose of MMR vaccine and the second dose is recommended at 4 to 6 years of age.' As of May 1, 935 people have contracted measles across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those cases, 68% are people age 19 and younger. The federal health organization also said 121 people have been hospitalized and three deaths have resulted from the disease this year. Poll: Belief in false measles claims correlated with lower vaccination rates Howell said infant vaccination rates in North Dakota are at about 81% and school-aged children have about a 90% rate, but those rates differ depending on location. She added there are no immediate plans to roll out mobile vaccination clinics because the vaccines are readily available at local health care providers. 'It's more concerning in areas where there are lower vaccination rates, so ideally, we're hoping parents have a conversation with their trusted health care provider,' she said. With measles being a highly contagious illness, Howell said a 95% vaccination rate is recommended to contain the spread of the disease locally. Howell said North Dakota public health agencies did lose some COVID-19 pandemic-related funding from the federal government in recent weeks, but she doesn't believe the cuts will affect the state's ability to respond to the measles cases. 'We'll continue to ensure that North Dakotans across the state have access to MMR vaccines, and other vaccines,' she said. Howell said people should not downplay the seriousness of measles, but she did not want people to panic either. 'What we want is for people to be informed of the benefits of vaccination versus the risks of the disease,' she said. 'We used to have 5,000 to 6,000 cases per year before the vaccine was available, but people died and were hospitalized. And now we have a way to prevent it and there's no reason for anyone to have to deal with this terrible disease.' Howell said the department will continue to update its measles-dedicated website as more information becomes available. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health officials report additional Eddy County measles case
Vials of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are displayed on a counter at a Walgreens Pharmacy on January 26, 2015 in Mill Valley, California. (Photo by Illustration) New Mexico Health officials reported one additional New Mexico measles case Friday, this time an adult in Eddy County, bringing the total reported infections to 66. The slow drip of cases in recent weeks does not indicate the outbreak is abating, according to New Mexico Department of Health Communications Director Robert Nott, who told Source NM that symptoms can appear a week or more after infections. 'The seemingly slow increase in measles cases in New Mexico should not be taken as a sign we are anywhere near out of the woods with this outbreak,' Nott said in a written statement. 'We see continued measles spread in bordering areas — Mexico and Texas, for example — so there is always the potential for a new introduction of cases in New Mexico.' Nott also noted that cases may rise in coming weeks after recent Easter weekend gatherings, given that 'symptoms of measles do not appear until roughly a week (or more) after infection.' The majority of measles cases in New Mexico remain in Lea County, which has 61 cases; the state has had six hospitalizations since the outbreak began in neighboring Gaines County, Texas, just across the state line. Cases in Doña Ana and Chaves counties remain unchanged, with one reported case each. Texas health officials on Friday reported cases increased by an additional 22 infections, bringing the total there to 646. Measles is highly contagious, spread through contact with airborne droplets from an infected person. Infected people can spread the disease several days before symptoms such as fever, red eyes, cough or spotty red rash appear. Two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine offers 97% protection against catching the measles, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. While the majority of health professionals continue to recommend two doses of the vaccine as the safest and most effective prevention from contracting measles, a recent poll from nonpartisan health research organization KFF found nearly a quarter of their sample believed false claims about the vaccine. Poll: Belief in false measles claims correlated with lower vaccination rates Also this week, researchers from Stanford Medicine published findings that determined if vaccination rates drop further, measles (and other infectious diseases) could return in the U.S. after decades of eradication. Using a mathematical model to simulate the spread of diseases, researchers also found that if vaccination rates remain the same, measles may still make a comeback in the next two decades. Pediatrician Dr. Melissa Mason told Source NM she sees a measles comeback as a matter of potential life and death. 'With vaccination rates as they stand, without dropping more, we're still gonna see people get measles — get sick and die from this,' she said. Mason, who chairs the immunization committee for the New Mexico Pediatric Society, said she's been impressed with efforts from New Mexico health officials to vaccinate people in the Southeastern corner of the state. Statewide vaccination rates are nearly double from the same time frame last year, according to data released Tuesday. 'These are gold star efforts, and that's going to make a difference,' she said. 'But nationally, in other areas that continue to have lower rates than 95% coverage, we're going to continue to see measles.' Julia Goldberg contributed to the reporting of this story.
