RxSchool - Influenza 2010: Reviewing the Past, Preparing for the Future

This program is presented by RxSchool.
There is no financial support for this program.

Course Overview

The next “Flu Season” is rapidly approaching and from all indications it appears that we’ve “dodged” the H1N1 bullet (for now anyhow). The new vaccine for 2010 – 2011 has been approved, manufactured and is on its way to the clinic. In this session we will review the basic virology of the influenza virus – the different types, the morphology, mechanisms of infection and replication and clinical manifestations of the disease. Within this framework we compare and contrast both “seasonal influenza” and pandemic influenza (ie., H1N1). We will then look at issue associated with immunity and vaccination, vaccine options, limitations and other “myths and realities”.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this continuing education lesson, the pharmacist will be able to:

Discuss influenza epidemiology and virology.

Compare and contrast “seasonal flu” and “pandemic flu” like H1N1 flu.

Describe antigenic drift and shift as they relate to epidemics, pandemics and vaccine effectiveness.

Discuss pharmacotherapy options for treatment of acute disease or prophylaxis.

Describe the “myths and realities” of the flu vaccine in preparation for patient education.

At the conclusion of this continuing education lesson, the pharmacy technician will be able to:

Describe why different flu types exist.

Name two reasons why vaccines change annually.

Compare and contrast seasonal flu and pandemic flu.

List two targets for influenza pharmacotherapy.

State two common questions about flu vaccination that you would refer to the pharmacist.

Planning to Share a Computer During This Event?

Remember each person must register individually before the event. Once registered, please email info@rxschool.com and provide us with the names of the persons who will be sharing a computer for our ACPE records.

Target Audience

Pharmacists
Pharmacy Technicians

Faculty:

Alan P. Agins, BS, MS, PhD
President - PRN Associates, Ltd. - Continuing Medical Education

Alan P. Agins earned his BS in biopsychology from State University of New York (Brockport). He also received a Masters in Pharmacology & Toxicology and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Rhode Island.

He has held faculty appointments at Brown University Medical School, Northeastern University School of Pharmacy and University of Virginia School of Nursing. He is currently an adjunct associate professor at Brown University where he has been the recipient of the Dean's Teaching Excellence Award for each of the past five years. Additionally, he has taught undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate pharmacology courses at a number of nursing schools around the country including Penn State, Idaho State, Radford University, University of West Virginia and University of Arizona.

Over the past ten years, Dr. Agins has lectured nationally to over 45,000 advanced practice clinicians (nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, dentists and other allied healthcare professionals).

He has authored, co-authored and served as primary reviewer for various journals, CE monographs, textbooks, newsletters and has presented and moderated a number of continuing education webcasts. He has written and performed in a series of short video clips used for on-line support of a number of Elsevier's nursing pharmacology textbooks and is currently in the final stages of producing an educational DVD for them as well.

Faculty Disclosure:

RxSchool has a Full and Fair Disclosure Policy that requires course faculty to communicate any real or apparent commercial affiliations related to the content of their presentations/materials. Alan P. Agins has no conflicts of interest to disclose.

You must attend the entire webinar and complete a post course assessment and evaluation in order to earn your Statement of Credit.