MCSA continues COVID-19 vaccination efforts

Vaccine also available at Melvin’s Discount Pharmacy and Walmart

Medical Center of South Arkansas is successfully nearing completion of Phase 1-A of their COVID-19 vaccinations efforts, including the vaccination of all MCSA employees, physicians on their medical staff and local EMS providers.

At the direction of Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Department of Health, MCSA plans to begin implementation of their Phase 1-B planning on Monday, Jan. 18. MCSA’s Phase 1-B will include individuals that are 70 years old or older, teachers and school staff, childcare workers and higher education workers. MCSA has planned to initially focus their efforts on vaccinating teachers and school support staff and is working closely with school administrators to plan accordingly.

“I am extremely proud of MCSA’s response to COVID19

and the vaccination efforts we are undertaking to protect our health care workers and community from this deadly virus. Vaccines give us great hope that we will start seeing the tides turn and make progress to end the battle against COVID-19,”said MCSA CEO Scott Street.

Medical Center of South Arkansas initially began receiving the Pfizer vaccine but will soon be receiving and utilizing the Moderna vaccine as well. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to permit the use of both vaccines for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is a suspension for intramuscular injection administered as a series of two doses (0.5 mLeach) 1 month apart.

To find vaccine administration sites in your area, visit https:// www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19map-of-1-a-pharmacy-locations

Melvin’s Discount Pharmacy and Walmart’s pharmacy are also carrying doses of the COVID vaccine.

Dr. Tami Murphy, a pharmacist at Melvin’s, said that anyone who qualifies as eligible for the vaccine — health care workers, first responders, nursing home residents and workers, teachers and school staff and people over 70 years old — should call the pharmacy to set an appointment to be vaccinated.

“Call the pharmacy and tell us that you want to make an appointment to get the COVID shot — that you’re over 70, or it may be a teacher or one of the other categories, health care workers … whatever category you qualify for — and then we’ll take their number and put them on a list,” Murphy said.

Once it is a person’s turn to be vaccinated, someone at Melvin’s will call the patient and tell them when they can come in for their first shot, Murphy said. Melvin’s is currently carrying the Moderna vaccine, and Murphy said the pharmacy’s first shipment included 50 doses.

“We request (additional doses) every week and we will be shipped according to what the state has been allotted,” she explained. “They’re trying to disperse it throughout the state, so you ask for a bunch and hope for the best.”

Murphy said that initially, the state suggested pharmacies save half of their allotments in order to ensure that everyone who is vaccinated will be able to receive their second dose, which is needed about three weeks after one receives the first shot; however, as the vaccines are becoming more available, that strategy has changed, she said.

“They’re suggesting now that we just go ahead and give the doses and they are confident that when the second dose comes around there will be plenty to give,” she said.

Murphy also noted that at no point will patients receiving the vaccine be charged. The pharmacy will ask to see insured patients’ insurance cards, and their insurance may be billed an administration fee, but regardless of whether someone is insured or whether their insurance covers the vaccination, the patient will never be billed.

“There’s no cost for the patients. The government is funding this whole thing,” Murphy said.

Melvin’s Discount Pharmacy can be reached at 870-863-4155.

A spokesperson from Walmart was not authorized to speak with the media Thursday afternoon about vaccine distribution.

The Arkansas Department of Health has outlined the following phases of vaccination eligibility for Arkansas residents:Phase 1-A: Included health care workers, long-term care residents and staff, EMS, fire and law enforcement, and others who serve as first responders and high priority groups

Phase 1-B (beginning Monday, January 18): Includes individuals that are 70 years old or older, teachers and school staff, and childcare and higher education workers. Later in Phase 1-B

includes food and agricultural workers, grocery store workers, manufacturing workers, public transit workers, U.S Postal Service workers, and essential government workers.

Phase 1-C (estimated to begin in April):

Includes people that are 65 years old or older, people ages 16-64 years old with high-risk medical conditions, workers in transportation and logistics, water and wastewater workers, food service workers, shelter and housing workers, finance workers, IT and communication workers, energy workers, media workers, and public safety and health workers.