National HeadlinesUpcoming EventsBoard of Hearing Aid Specialists Public MeetingJuly 26, 9 a.m., Miami Low Income Pool Council Public MeetingJuly 28,10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Hollywood Department of Children and Family Service Public HearingJuly 28, 1:30 p.m., Tallahassee FL Assn of Community Health Centers & AHEC MeetingJuly 28-30, Bonita Springs, FL Cover Florida: The Unregulated Health Insurance MarketJuly 30, 9 a.m. - 12 Noon, Miami Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists Public MeetingJuly 31, 2 p.m.; Aug.1, 9 a.m., Orlando Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Public MeetingAug. 8, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m, Orlando Board of Pharmacy Professional Practice Committee MeetingAugust 12, 9 a.m., Orlando Board of Pharmacy Rules Committee MeetingAugust 12, 2 p.m. Orlando Empowering Healthcare: A Look at Key ComponentsAugust 13, Ft. Lauderdale Board of Pharmacy Public Meeting August 13, 8 a.m., Orlando 2008 Florida Minority Health Disparities SummittAugust 13-15, Tampa Board of Medicine Credentials Committee Public MeetingAugust 14, 9:00 a.m., Orlando Board of Medicine Anesthesiologist Assistants Committee Public MeetingAugust 14, 9:15 a.m., Orlando Board of Medicine Physician Assistant Council MeetingAugust 14, 9:30 a.m., Orlando Board of Medicine Rules and Legislative Committee MeetingAugust 14, 9:45 a.m., Orlando Board of Medicine Surgical Care/Quality Assurance Committee Public MeetingAugust 14,10 a.m., Orlando Board of Medicine Public MeetingAugust 15-16, 8 a.m., Orlando Board of Medicine Probable Cause Panel- SouthSeptember 12, 2 p.m. Division of Medical Quality Assurance Public MeetingSept. 17, 8:30 a.m. – 12 Noon, Tallahassee Board of Medicine Probable Cause Panel- NorthSeptember 26, 2 p.m. |
Top StoryState flu shot law misses flu season By Christine Jordan Sexton
“This isn’t rocket science,’’ Atwater recently said. “We missed it.” Health department officials told Atwater's committee that it is now moving ahead on implementation, but conceded it may be too late for the current flu season. . The health department provides administrative support to the health professional boards. A top official with the Florida Pharmacy Association called the process “agonizingly slow” and put the blame on the state's Board of Medicine, which was required to be consulted, and Board of Osteopathic Medicine, which the pharmacy association voluntarily consulted. Comment was supposed to be limited to only the educational requirements for giving the shots, said Michael Jackson, executive vice president and CEO of the Florida Pharmacy Association, but he said they debated the same issues that the Florida Medical Association used when it failed to derail the bill last session. The flu, more scientifically known as influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that is spread through coughs or sneezes. A web site at the Centers for Disease Control says February is the month with the heaviest flu activity, followed by January and December. Certain populations are at risk of complications for the flu, including retirees. Florida lags behind the national average when it comes to vaccinating senior citizens against the flu. According to 2006 data from the Florida health department, 61.5 percent of adults aged 65 had been vaccinated; the national average was 69.6 percent. To raise the immunization rate, legislators passed the bill to allow pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to adults. Only pharmacists who carry $200,000 in medical malpractice insurance and take 20 hours of continuing education courses will be authorized to administer the vaccines. Moreover, a pharmacist also must enter written agreements with physicians or a county health department before being allowed to administer the shots. Both the boards registered concerns with the rule, mostly about quality of care, a review of board minutes show. A Board of Medicine subcommittee complained that the rule didn’t require the pharmacist to communicate with a primary caregiver. The subcommittee also suggested the rule require the pharmacist to provide the patient with information regarding adverse reactions. None of the recommendations, however, are included in the final rule that the Florida Department of Health hopes will become effective the end of this month. Jackson said pharmacies are reluctant to order flu vaccines for next season without the rule being in place and assurances that pharmacists will be allowed to administer the shot. “Many of our pharmacies out there have to order flu shots for the flu season now because we can’t wait for the summer time to do that,” he said. FHN Tallahassee correspondent Christine Jordan Sexton can be reached at cjordansexton@hotmail.com. |
Related Articles |
|
 |
 |
 |
