NEWS BRIEFs ALLERG I C TO PF I ZER OR MODERNA? TRY THE J&J COV I D VACC I NE The FDA issued an emergency use autho- rization in late February 2021 for a third COVID-19 vaccine to be used in the United States. The Johnson and Johnson Covid- 19 vaccine has a major benefit because it is approved for people who may have aller- gic reactions to the two other approved vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. CDC recommenda-
Affairs’ Enforcement Bureau, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Tactical Diversion Squad in Newark revealed the criminal activity using prescrip- tion records, text messages between these men and a pharmacy technician. The New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program (NJPMP) revealed suspicious activity that uncovered the criminal activity that led to these charges. Information from the Monmouth County Medical Examiner’s Office given to investi- gating agencies in September 2019 showed that oxycodone prescriptions were being filled for a deceased person for nearly a year post-death. In addition, information showed a marketed increase in controlled substance units being dispensed from this pharmacy. The four men allegedly conspired between April 2018 andOctober 2019 to illegally obtain and distribute oxycodone and promethazine by removing the controlled drug substance (CDS) from the pharmacy. New Jersey pre- scription blanks, used to remove these drugs, were taken by a pharmacy technician from St. Joseph’s UniversityMedical Center in Paterson and Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck. Crespolini states, “Approximately 167 fal- sified oxycodone prescriptions that ranged in date from April 27, 2018 to Sept. 26, 2019 were discovered and seized.” Evidence pulled from cellphone records revealed that there was prior communication between a pharmacy technician and the other men adding to the mounting evidence. In addition to the above charges, Santiago is charged with theft by unlawful taking, and Santiago, Miller, and Vickers are charged with falsifying medical records and falsify- ing or tampering with records, officials said. Chan would eventually be asked to volun- tarily surrender her pharmacy license by the State Board of Pharmacy in February 2020, which would result in a tempo- rary suspension until further action could be taken by the Board at a later time. Actions like these are particularly frightening when thinking that those within pharmaceu- ticals could be getting their hands dirty in this way, but it is good to see that something is being done to stop these types of criminal acts before it gets completely out of hand. Source: Crespolini, Russ. “Morris County Man Charged In Oxycodone Selling Scheme.”Mendham-Chester,NJPatch, Patch, 24Feb. 2021, patch.com/new-jersey/ mendham-chester/morris-county-man-charged-oxycodone-selling-scheme.
protein. Once the adenovirus enters cells, they use that code to make spike proteins. The CDC also explains that the J&J vac- cine contains polysorbate, which is a slightly different allergic concern than the other vaccines. One of the main allergic worries for the Pfizer and Moderna shots is polyeth- ylene glycol (PEG). PEG, while structurally related to polysorbate, is absent in Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine. Many people who resist getting the vaccine at all report fear of
allergic reaction as one of the top reasons for hesitating, often wait- ing until “other people get it first” and waiting a while. The J&J vac- cine has another big advantage in that it only requires one single dose, while the others require a second dose three or four weeks after the first. Safety profiles of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines do look good with only 4.7 cases of anaphylaxis per
tions state that people who experience a severe allergic reaction (ana- phylaxis) after getting the first shot either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID- 19 vaccine should not get the second shot. “An allergic reaction is consid- ered severe when a person needs to be treated with epinephrine or EpiPen© or if they must go to the hospital,” according to the CDC’s main website. For those who experience
an allergic reaction known as “COVID arm” where a red, itchy, swollen, or painful rash appears near the vaccination site, the CDC still recommends they receive the second shot as scheduled, perhaps in the other arm. Monitoring is recommended, as is reporting the symptoms to the vaccine provider. For itching, an antihistamine is recommended. For pain, acetaminophen or an anti-inflam- matory drug (NSAID) may provide relief. Until the J&J approval, a severe allergic reaction could leave patients without full pro- tection from COVID-19 and no other options to complete the vaccination series. The CDC has now stated that those individuals may consider the J&J vaccine for their second dose. So why can these people get the J&J vaccine when the other two cause allergic reactions? The J&J vaccine differs from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in that it employs DNA instead of messenger RNA (mRNA) and has an entirely different mechanism of deliver- ing the active component to cells. Isobella Harkrider, of Reform Austin points out STAT’s breakdown of these two vaccines, saying, “The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are made using messenger RNA (mRNA), technology that delivers a bit of genetic code to cells to make the surface protein (known as spike) on the SARS-2 virus.” The J&J vaccine instructs human cells dif- ferently to make the SARS-2 spike protein, which then triggers an immune response. It is what is known as a viral vectored vac- cine. A harmless adenovirus from a large family of viruses has been engineered to carry the genetic code for the SARS-2 spike
million and 2.5 cases per million, respec- tively. However, the J&J vaccine reported even less than these numbers in clini- cal trials, but more data will come about as this vaccine is brought to the public. No vaccine is without allergy risks. Patients are still screened prior to receiv- ing the vaccine and are monitored for 15 – 30 minutes following for any reactions. Source: Harkrider, Isobella. “What Makes the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Different?” Reform Austin, 25 Feb. 2021, www.reformaustin.org/coronavirus/ what-makes-the-johnson-johnson-vaccine-different/
OXYCODONE SELL I NG SCHEME
Panther Valley Pharmacy in Allamuchy, New Jersey was the site where four men including a registered pharmacist allegedly conspired to obtain and distribute oxycodone. The fol- lowing individuals have been arrested and charged with the crimes related to this activity. Anny Chan of Clinton, Milagros Santiago of Haledon, Jonathan Miller of Whippany, and Siraj Vickers of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, were all charged in relation to the crimes of con- spiracyand thedistributionof bothOxycodone and Promethazine. Of the group, Chan was formerly known as the registered pharma- cist-in-charge at Panther Valley Pharmacy. Russ Crespolini, of Patch.com, points out that more than 30,000 30 milligram oxy- codone pills, which are known as blues, were somehow diverted from the phar- macy in order to continue this scheme. An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, the New Jersey Division of Consumer
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