By Staff
Friday, February 26, 2021 3:56 PM
NEW YORK—Is it safe yet? This seems to be the question many are asking today as the coronavirus pandemic seems to be on a downward slope, but yet the threat of new variants taking hold is moving in the opposite direction.
At the same time, a debate about “vaccine passports” is picking up as many countries look toward something close to normalcy even amid these new virus strains. New research from
Piplsay recently dug into the opinions of people on this emerging vaccine passport concept and their acceptance of it.
With the mass roll of COVID-19 vaccines, there could be a new normal headed our way, according to the research firm’s
recent report.
Vaccine passports, or e-certificates that contain COVID-19 test results and vaccination status, may soon become mandatory for international travel, with many countries even contemplating using it for regular activities like concerts, games, movies and even workplaces.
While vaccination for travel is not a new concept as several countries demand proof of yellow fever vaccination even today, displaying one’s health status for everyday access may take some getting used to.
How comfortable are Americans with this emerging idea of a digital health passport? In the Piplsay poll of 30,268 people nationwide, this is what the responses looked like:
• 65 percent of Americans said they believe vaccine passports will be a useful tool to keep a check on the virus
• 64 percent of Americans support the idea of travel access based on one’s health status
• 57 percent of Americans think vaccine passports will make their visits or travel less stressful.
By Staff
Friday, February 26, 2021 12:24 AM
Total Vision forms new partnership, Bausch Health adds directors to board, Alcon reports Q4 sales gain, Jobson Research issues COVID-19 special report and Solstice Sunglasses files for bankruptcy protection all topped this week’s
VMAIL news feed. Click on the headlines below to catch up on anything you might have missed.
By Staff
Friday, February 26, 2021 12:21 AM
BINGHAM FARMS, Mich.—
Sunvera Group, a management services organization providing services to ophthalmology practices across multiple subspecialties, announced the addition of
Kellis Eye & Laser Center to its platform.
By Staff
Friday, February 26, 2021 12:15 AM
VANCOUVER, British Columbia—
CloudMD Software & Services Inc. (OTCQB: DOCRF), a telehealth software company, announced last week that it has agreed to acquire
VisionPros, a vertically integrated digital eyewear platform and e-tailer, based here.
By Staff
Friday, February 26, 2021 12:02 AM
EssilorLuxottica is launching the first commercial product leveraging the strength of the new Group by strategically combining the expertise of Essilor and Luxottica.
By Staff
Thursday, February 25, 2021 4:14 PM
WASHINGTON—Retail sales grew sharply in January as government stimulus checks provided a boost and momentum from 2020’s record holiday season carried over into the new year, according to a
recent feature from the the National Retail Federation.
The U.S. Census Bureau said overall retail sales in January were up 5.3 percent seasonally adjusted from December and up 7.4 percent year-over-year. That compares with a monthly drop of 1 percent but a yearly gain of 2.5 percent in December. Despite month-over-month declines in the last quarter of 2020, sales have grown year-over-year every month since June, according to Census data.
“January’s retail sales numbers reflect a very strong start for consumers and retailers as we look ahead to a critical year curbing the global pandemic and strengthening our economic recovery,” NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Consumers and the economy as a whole remain in good shape despite unprecedented adversity over the past year, and congressional action has been a lifeline for households and businesses disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
By Staff
Thursday, February 25, 2021 12:27 AM
LAVAL, Quebec—
Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) will expand its board of directors with the addition of two designees from the Carl Icahn Group as part of an agreement with the
investor's group, which said earlier this month that it has increased its ownership stake in the health care company to almost 8 percent. In a separate announcement Wednesday, Bausch reported that “despite unprecedented business challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic … Bausch Health finished the year strong and outperformed the high end of [its] latest revenue guidance range.”
By Staff
Thursday, February 25, 2021 12:24 AM
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—
The Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (APS), an organization founded in 2018 to advocate for both patient safety and a strong doctor-patient relationship, has named Alison Teitelbaum, MS, MPH, CAE, as its new executive director.
By Staff
Thursday, February 25, 2021 12:18 AM
CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—During a meeting of the EssilorLuxottica board of directors on Wednesday, it was decided to propose the nomination of 12 individuals to compose its future board of directors, including Leonardo Del Vecchio, as a non-independent director.
By Staff
Thursday, February 25, 2021 12:02 AM
NIRVAN JAVAN, the eyewear brand created in 2015 by the Swiss designer with Persian origins of the same name, makes its debut in Italy.
By Staff
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 4:56 PM
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked the need for many changes in the office, and ODs have had to make adjustments to keep the office and exam experience safe and comfortable for patients. Respondents shared that they made new technology purchases for the optical (52 percent), the exam room and pretesting area (52 percent) and for billing or the front office area (32 percent), according to a recent
Women In Optometry Pop-Up Poll.
Technology for sterilizing frames topped the new purchase list, with 75 percent of respondents saying that they added a new way of cleaning frames between patients. Other common responses included:
• Diagnostic instruments that allow for social distancing:
50 percent• Kiosks for taking patients’ temperature:
40 percent• Telemedicine applications:
35 percent• EMR to enable work-at-home options:
20 percentClick
here to read the full story from
Women In Optometry.
By Staff
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 12:24 AM
GENEVA, Switzerland—
Alcon (SIX/NYSE:ALC), a global leader in eyecare, reported Tuesday that its worldwide sales for the fourth quarter rose 2 percent on a reported basis to $1.9 billion. The increase was 1 percent on a constant currency basis.
By Staff
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 12:02 AM
IRIS Mundial announces that, for the 14th year, the organization will benefit from an annual fundraising campaign organized by IRIS, The Visual Group, its main partner. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Jean-Pierre Tchang, the organization aims to improve the visual health of disadvantaged people in developing countries giving them access to ophthalmic services.
By Staff
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 4:40 PM
Payers can gain tremendous time and cost efficiencies by transitioning members from paper to digital communications as long as members are receptive and willing to make the switch, according to the results of a recent survey by
Change Healthcare, a leading independent health care technology company.
The survey findings, published by the online trade journal
Fierce Healthcare, were based on a poll of 250 insured consumers.
By Staff
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 12:27 AM
NEW YORK—Having conducted a series of exclusive surveys and studies throughout the course of 2020 and continuing into this year,
Jobson Research's ongoing research with U.S. eyecare professionals and optical retailers provided regular and consistent perspectives on the dramatic and pervasive impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the optical business and the vision care space. A new special report, "COVID's Impact on Optical: The Year of 2020 Numbers in Review," takes a broader view of the industry's performance since March through December of 2020, offering a unique portrait of the pandemic's consequences.