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Have you ever wanted to know how vaccines are sent out from a lab to your doctor's office safely? Well, believe it or not, the integrity of the vaccines relies on how they have been packed just as much as how they are being transported. And the entire process is not as simple as you may think. Traditionally, styrofoam boxes might work well to secure glass or delicate goods during transportation but when it comes to hauling vials of liquid vaccine solutions out to medical centres and hospitals; the packing process must be more rigorous-understandably. The integrity of the vaccines, being transported, must adhere to particular protocols from the second they are packed right up to the moment they are administered. This process sounds strict and that's because it is. If vaccines are not well-cared for, even during transit, then they are at risk of being contaminated or damaged therefore rendering them unusable. Incorrectly transporting vaccines, which will end up being destroyed, is something nobody wants to happen therefore vaccine transportation must be strict. One of the best ways to ensure the safe and efficient transit of medical goods, like vaccines, is by using bioprocess containers. These containers are specifically designed to maintain the integrity of sensitive biological materials throughout their journey.

Integrative Cancer Science and Therapeutics welcomes submission of papers both at the molecular, subcellular, cellular, organ, and organism level, and of clinical proof-of-concept and translational studies. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: novel basic cancer research discoveries, cell and tumor biology, animal models, metastasis, cancer antigens and the immune response to them, cellular signalling and molecular biology, epidemiology, genetic and molecular profiling of cancer and molecular targets, cancer stem cells, cancer-associated pathways (including cell-cycle regulation; cell death; chromatin regulation; DNA damage and repair; gene and RNA regulation; genomics; oncogenes and tumor suppressors; and signal transduction), molecular virology and vaccine- and antibody-based cancer therapies, and other cancer-related research.

National pharmacy bodies have called on the government and NHS leaders to take appropriate action to keep pharmacy teams safe from violence and abuse. The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) - in collaboration with the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMp), the Company Chemists' Association (CCA), the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) - is supporting an important petition started by Mike Hewitson, a community pharmacy contractor, who has been threatened with stabbing and robbed in his own pharmacy. The PSNC and the other national pharmacy bodies strongly believe that no healthcare professional should have to deal with this, that and pharmacists and their teams should be better protected. It said: "Community pharmacies play an integral role in the delivery of primary care and most patients are highly appreciative of the hard work of local pharmacists and pharmacy teams from dispensing medicines and administering vaccines to providing medical advice and health monitoring services.

In a bid to amplify the role of pharmacists in clinical services and vaccination programs, the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has embarked on a groundbreaking collaboration with Aston University. This initiative, funded by Innovate UK Business Connect, aims to explore the feasibility and impact of integrating additional healthcare interventions within community pharmacies. "The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) research project represents an exciting opportunity to advance the role of pharmacists in patient care," remarked Alison Jones, Director of Policy at PDA. "This project will be an important part of that evolution, supporting individual pharmacists to have more opportunities to practice and so develop more fulfilling careers." Led by the PDA and Aston University, the project will commence imminently, focusing on the Priory Community Pharmacy in Dudley.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) presented key evidence to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry on 10 September, underscoring the vital role of pharmacists and pharmacy teams during the pandemic. Deirdre Domingo, legal representative for the RPS, delivered the statement during the Module 3 public hearings, which focus on the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems across the UK. As the professional body representing pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in Great Britain, the RPS urged the Inquiry to consider several critical issues: Recognition of pharmacists as key workers The RPS highlighted the crucial role pharmacy teams played in ensuring continued access to essential medicines and their integral involvement in the roll-out of COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. However, the Society also raised concerns over significant failures and challenges, such as inadequate safety measures to protect pharmacists at work, confusing national guidance, increased hostility towards healthcare professionals, and a disparity in the treatment of community pharmacy compared to NHS staff.

Community pharmacy is integral to accelerating the three shifts envisaged by the government, but concrete action is needed to address the current funding crisis - the Company Chemists' Association (CCA) has stated in its response to the 10-year plan consultation. The CCA highlighted a wide range of pharmacy services that could contribute to achieving the government's vision shifting care from hospitals to community, from analogue to digital, and from treating sickness to prevention. To strengthen the sector's role in prevention, it proposes expanding the pharmacy's role in vaccination, screening, emergency hormonal contraception (EHC), and smoking cessation services. Furthermore, the CCA's submission noted that the expansion of Pharmacy First as "key to moving more care into the community."

Nick Kaye, chair of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), gave evidence to the UK's official COVID-19 Inquiry on Monday (4 November), highlighting the importance of building a "sustainable and resilient community pharmacy network" to enhance preparedness for future pandemics. Kaye also recommended utilising the existing community pharmacy infrastructure for public health initiatives, such as vaccination programmes, and stressed the need to recognise community pharmacists and their teams as integral members of primary care. "Seven pharmacies a week are closing across the four nations, and that is tragic for any future response. So, a resilient community pharmacy network that exists is going to be key," he told the Inquiry. He noted that 90 per cent of most NPA members' income comes from providing NHS services, underscoring the critical role pharmacies play in healthcare delivery. However, Kaye highlighted that pharmacies were often overlooked and underappreciated during the pandemic.