Independent pharmacies claim they are experiencing shipment delays, which is causing their patients to wait longer to get vaccinated, as large drugstore chains like CVS and Walgreens roll out the new Covid vaccine.
Independent drugstore owner Neal Smoller of Woodstock, New York’s Village Apothecary said that although Pfizer’s vaccination arrived on Wednesday, Moderna’s doses arrived over the weekend. He noted that although the Food and Drug Administration approved the Novavax vaccine last Friday, there is still no set timeframe for its shipping.
According to Smoller, Labor Day is a popular time of year for immunizations. Over the course of the holiday weekend, he has administered the Moderna vaccine to around 400 people, mostly teachers getting ready for the start of the school year and elderly persons worried about the summer spike in Covid cases.
According to him, some people are holding out for the Pfizer or Novavax vaccinations to be delivered to the drugstore.
Smoller stated, “Even though we’re big vaccine supporters, it’s still a chaotic mess and we’re trying to allay everybody’s fears” that it would be accessible. There is a great deal of fear and worry on the part of the sufferer. Many calls attempting to find out whether “I can get my vaccine?” I’ve been told it was accepted.
Independent pharmacists who talked with NBC News asserted—a claim that Pfizer and Moderna both refuted—that the delays are the result of medication makers and distributors giving priority to larger retail chains, such as CVS and Walgreens, for their early shipments.
Moderna’s spokeswoman stated that the company is “on track with all of our commitments across channels, including non-retail,” which is code for community health centers and physician offices.
In a statement, a Pfizer representative stated that the pharmaceutical company had shipped and delivered “millions of doses” of the new Covid vaccine and that “all orders are being fulfilled as received, and are being shipped within days of an order being placed.”
The two pharmaceutical companies agreed that purchasing the vaccinations from wholesalers may cause a small delay in the procedure.
Walgreens and CVS spokespeople stated that there is a sufficient supply of the immunizations.
Patients enduring
The sole independent pharmacy in Powell, an Ohio tiny town north of Columbus, is owned and operated by Emlah Tubuo. She mentioned that whereas other retail chains demand appointments for vaccinations, her drugstore allows walk-ins.
Despite having placed an order, Tubuo has not yet received any doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations. Sometime this week, she hopes to get the cargoes.
According to Tubuo, “the independent pharmacies usually roll them out last, and the chain pharmacies usually get them first.” “We find it really offensive.”
Some individuals who would have received their flu shot sooner are delaying it because they wish to have it in addition to their Covid vaccine.
“I had to tell them to just check back with us because we’ve got a lot of calls,” she said. “We wanted to coadminister because we’ve been teaching people that receiving both vaccines at the same time is acceptable.”
The vaccination rollout in Georgia is progressing well generally, according to Jonathan Marquess, vice president of the Academy of Independent Pharmacy, however some independent pharmacies could still be waiting on doses.
He said, “I believe the majority of independents are receiving them earlier this year,” and that the Pfizer dosages appear to be the cause of the delay.
The proprietor of Pennsylvania’s Skippack Pharmacy, Mayank Amin, claimed to have received thousands of doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations.
Amin claimed to be an exceptional case since his pharmacy specializes in vaccinations and he credits his success in obtaining doses to his constant communication with producers and follow-ups to guarantee the vaccine doses are made and delivered.
He remarked, “It’s absurd that you have to do that.” “It’s evident that the chain pharmacies have a direct contact at Moderna and Pfizer who tells them to “make sure we acquire these vaccinations.” It’s every man for himself for us.
There are still more little pharmacies in line.
The proprietor of Cincinnati’s Altev Community Pharmacy, Emmanuel Ayanjoke, stated he hasn’t yet received any doses of the Moderna vaccination. It is not him who ordered the Pfizer vaccination.
According to him, doctors’ offices began sending patients to the drugstore as early as August. As a result, he has started gathering names and will get in touch as soon as the vaccine is available.
