Local pharmacies report high demand as new coronavirus vaccine tier opens
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia-area pharmacies are helping in the effort to give out coronavirus vaccines to members of Missouri's newly opened tier of eligible residents.
Phase 1B, Tier 3 of the state's vaccination eligibility opened up Monday for residents of Missouri. This new tier of eligibility includes the following people in critical infrastructure:
- Education
- Childcare
- Communications infrastructure
- Dams sector
- Energy sector
- Food and agriculture
- Government
- Information technology
- Nuclear reactor sector
- Transportation systems
- Water and wastewater systems
D&H Drugstore owner and pharmacist Tanya Alberty said D&H stores expect to receive at least 100 doses of the vaccine each week, according to the Missouri Pharmacy Association. But Alberty says it's not uncommon for her stores to receive more than just the 100 doses.
"Its been busy ... I think we did just over 600 with second doses and then first doses on top of that last week," Alberty said.
Alberty said since Tier 3 has opened up, D&H appointments have filled up faster than they did last week.
"Right before Tier 3 opened up, we had (appointments) open for probably about three days," Alberty said. "But now that Tier 3 is open, it (filled up) in a little more than 20 minutes"
Mexico resident, Mark Twillmann received his first shot of the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday at D&H Drugstore. He said it was fairly easy scheduling a shot.
"I just followed protocol ... I got my name on a list and I came by yesterday and they told me they had an opening for today," Twillmann said.
Twillmann said he hopes getting a vaccine will help to eventually get the world back to normal.
"Eventually, I hope this stuff goes away like everyone else is," Twillmann said. "It's did enough damage to the world."
Other local pharmacies including Flow's Pharmacy have reported short vaccination wait times for patients.
Anthony DeSha, owner of Flow's Pharmacy, said Flow's is recommending people show up at the time of their appointment.
Pharmacist and partner of Kilgore's Pharmacy on Providence, Bill Morrissey, said that appointments have been going well for and if people fill out their paperwork online ahead of time, it can get them in and out of their appointment faster.
"The paperwork component can be done before they arrive for their appointment and if they fill everything out online, the appointment itself can be relatively short," Morrissey said.
He said typically from start to finish, it should take people around 20 minutes for an appointment, which includes a 15-minute observation period.
According to the state dashboard, 23.4% of Boone County residents have taken at least one vaccine dose, with just under 65,000 does administered overall.
