A coalition of consumers, businesses and pharmacists is promoting greater access to immunizations to mark World Immunization Week, which lasts from April 24 to 30.

According to a study by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, text-message reminders do not increase the likelihood an expecting mother will receive a flu shot, Reuters reported.

An early look at this season’s reports indicates that about 90% of flu-related pediatric deaths occurred in children who had not received a flu vaccination this season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

Nearly 1,000 biotech drugs and vaccines for more than 100 diseases are currently under development, according to a new report.

A Virginia-based pharmacy school will collaborate with an alliance of more than 22,000 pharmacies around the country to find ways to promote and increase pneumococcal vaccinations among elderly and high-risk people.

This year's triumvirate influenza vaccine was less effective in seniors as compared to the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report."

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores made its voice heard before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on the role of pharmacists in influenza vaccination, the retail pharmacy lobbying group said Wednesday.

While this season's flu epidemic maintains its strength across the West Coast, one vaccine distributor announced they still have vaccine on hand.

Good, but it could be better.

I’m talking about the results of a nationwide survey of Americans who were vaccinated against influenza for the 2012-2013 flu season. Based on an online poll of nearly 1,100 adults in mid-January, researchers for Ipsos Public Affairs found a solid majority of Americans still rely on their family physician for their flu shots, but that retail pharmacies and walk-in clinics are making significant progress in their campaign to shift the center of gravity for immunizations away from the doctor’s office.

Most Americans who reported getting a flu shot in the past season received that vaccination in their physician's office. However, about 20% received their flu shot at a retail pharmacy and 12.6% at a walk-in clinic, according to an Ipsos Public Affairs poll.

Rite Aid reported a 0.3% increase in comps for the month of January, the retail pharmacy chain said.