Sarah Lynch | Source | Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Binghamton University, S...

The FDA just announced that phenylephrine, a common-over the counter decongestant, is not effective, but there is some confusion around which products this effects. Your best bet? Check the drug facts and consult with your local pharmacist, says Sarah Lynch, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

"The committee voted unanimously that phenylephrine is not effective - that does not mean it is unsafe, just that it will not do much more for nasal congestion than a placebo would," says Lynch. "It is not clear if the FDA will choose to remove the product from the market due to this decision."

Phenylephrine is available for purchase as a single ingredient product, but it is often the decongestant product that is included in combination cough, cold and flu products because it is less regulated than the other oral decongestant on the market. Pseudoephedrine is another type of oral decongestant that is available OTC, but with certain restrictions. It must be purchased at a pharmacy with quantity limits because it is an important ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

"It can be confusing to identify products that have phenylephrine, but one place to start is to look at the drug facts label on the product," says Lynch. "It will list the ingredients at the top of the label."

"One area of confusion might be some of the news reports surrounding this product, which refer to some of the brand names under which it is sold. Consumers will often recognize a product by its most common brand name (like Sudafed or Benadryl or Nyquil), but these 'brand name extensions' will often manufacture products with other ingredients or combinations. Some of them may include phenylephrine, but many of them will not. Your pharmacist is a great resource if you have questions about any OTC products you are using. Pharmacists can also make recommendations for alternative products that may help your symptoms as well."

6 important things to know about your COVID-19 vaccine card

Everyone who gets vaccinated for COVID-19 in the U.S. receives a vaccine card. Sarah Lynch, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Binghamton University, State University of New York, offers insight into why vaccine cards are important and why you should hold onto yours.

1. The cards serve as proof of inoculation against COVID-19.

Most clinics and pharmacies that administer any type of vaccine will provide some sort of documentation, and this card standardizes that process. The cards include the most important information about the vaccine, as well as the date and site where the doses were administered, and appointment dates for second doses – so they serve as a handy and efficient way for sites to share information with individuals coming in for their vaccine.

2. The cards contain important information about you and the vaccine you received.

The cards include personal information, such as name, date of birth, and medical record number (if applicable). But they also include important information about the vaccine administered – the manufacturer (Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen), the date administered, and the vaccination site. It also includes specific information about the specific shot you were given, like the lot number. This is important if an adverse event occurs and needs to be reported, because in rare instances these may be tied to a specific lot number. There is also a spot on the card to place the date of the second appointment, which helps with the scheduling logistics associated with the two dose mRNA vaccines.

3. They’re a good reminder.

In the short term, the cards provide us with a reminder of a second appointment for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. They also remind us of the dates administered, which will become especially important if it turns out that booster vaccines are needed at a certain point.

4. In the long term, the cards may serve to gain access to events and travel.

It can be compared to the vaccine requirements many colleges have for students and medical centers have for employees, where individuals must submit documentation of vaccination or antibody titers to certain infectious diseases.

5. You should take good care of your card.

Laminating can help keep the card in good condition. Certain office supply stores are laminating COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards for free. It is also recommended to scan a copy of the card for your own files, as a backup. Taking a picture of the front and back and saving it on a mobile device will mean that most people will have the card information on them at all times. Finally, some states are rolling out digital vaccine passport applications. These will allow the card information to be logged in a digital app that can be easily accessed on a mobile device and shared at events where documentation is required, eliminating the need to carry around the physical card.

6. If you lose your card, return to the site where you received the vaccination.

Those sites have records of all the information on the card and should be able to issue you a new card.

Pharmacists will play an important role in issuing the COVID-19 vaccine to the public, but that comes with challenges, said Sarah Lynch, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

“Pharmacists have been playing an important role in vaccination administration and immunization rates for years, and the COVID vaccine is no different,” said Lynch. “In these early distribution phases, pharmacists have been tasked with managing vaccine supply for healthcare systems, with many also managing allocation and administration to employees. We'll see an even greater pharmacist role as community/retail pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, grocery chains) start receiving their supplies in a widespread manner in the coming weeks.”

Currently, there's a shift in the type of pharmacist vaccinating: while community/retail pharmacists have typically handled the bulk of vaccinations, institutional and health systems pharmacists are expected to step up and administer immunizations within their healthcare systems. In some states, there are large proportions of pharmacists in these settings who are not yet trained, so there is high demand for immunization training programs,

While pharmacists are up to the challenge, it's not without its burdens, said Lynch.

“There are concerns, especially within chain pharmacies, about the increased workload of administering these vaccines,” said Lynch. “Certain larger chains have been granted contracts to manage administration at long-term care facilities. Some chains are hiring additional pharmacists to immunize, but in many cases staff have not been given details about whether additional help will be provided. With the current disorganized rollout process, it is unclear how pharmacies will be able to screen and triage individuals to receive the vaccine within the state-mandated guidelines. While it's exciting to be involved in such an important undertaking, the disorganization and enormous scale of the venture is weighing heavily on many pharmacists' minds.”