One of the questions on a lot of people’s minds is “When and where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?”
Poplar Bluff residents have had the opportunity to attend the mass vaccination event held at Hydro Adventures, with the second shot being administered Friday, Feb. 12, at the Black River Coliseum.
The Daily American Republic also contacted several pharmacies in the area, and as of now, the answer is pretty standard across the board. They are waiting just like everyone else.
Key Drugs reports it vaccinated 115 people last week and they hope to see another shipment soon. To sign up for the vaccine, all you need to do is go to Key Drugs and your name will be added to a waiting list, or register online at www.keydrugs.com.
There is no charge to receive the vaccine at Key Drugs, and many other pharmacies.
Key Drugs currently has about 750 on a waiting list for the vaccine, and says they will call people in order as more shots become available.
“I order 1,000 shots every week. We order them every Monday and we’ll find out the day before they come in by email,” said Marty Michel of Key Drugs. “But we don’t really have any idea when we’ll get more (for first doses).”
Key Drugs has administered the Pfizer vaccine and does expect to receive second doses for those vaccinated last week.
The pharmacy also has the capability of storing the Moderna vaccine, but those have been reserved for mass vaccination clinics so far, Michel said.
East Side Pharmacy reported they have been trying for weeks to get the vaccine, but have not yet been able to obtain any. They have a waiting list for vaccinations, and individuals can come by and sign up.
Owner David Odum is just as frustrated as many others, and said going through the bureaucracy has been somewhat of a chore.
Odum summed up the situation by saying, “We’re in the dark just as much as anyone else.”
Walmart stores across the nation will begin administering vaccines Feb. 12, according to information released this week. The pharmacies in Poplar Bluff say as soon as the vaccine is made available to them, they will begin administering them.
“More than 1,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in 22 states are receiving federal vaccine allocations this week, with an emphasis on locations that reach customers in underserved communities with limited access to health care,” corporate officials said in a press release. “Vaccine supply and eligibility will vary based on allocation as well as state and local guidelines. The number of vaccinations will be limited and is planned to continue to increase each week.”
Appointments can be made at www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine, as well as updates as to when vaccinations might be made available here.
Walgreens pharmacy has received vaccines, but has been administering them at nursing homes and long-term care facilities since sometime in December. Anyone interested in finding out when a local Walgreens will have the vaccine, they encourage visiting their website, www.walgreens.com.
CVS pharmacy is also vaccinating at local nursing homes and long-term care facilities. To find out when they will be offering vaccinations, the information can be found at the company’s website, www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine.
Kroger pharmacy reports it currently has no vaccines, nor does it have a timetable as to when they might get them. A list of Kroger pharmacies that have the vaccine can be found here, www.kroger.com/i/coronavirus-update/vaccine.
The Medicine Shoppe has no plans to distribute the COVID 19 vaccine.