Vaccination efforts in the works
More than a year ago on February 14, 2020, the groundbreaking for the new building and location of Community Care Rx Pharmacy in Malvern took place. The pharmacy has served the community and Shelyn Davis, pharmacy manager/ pharmacist and staff have served for the community with a big caring heart since officially relocating to 1402 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Although the COVID- 19 pandemic has been challenging for the pharmacy, Davis strives to maintain the dedication of taking care of all patients and all of their needs.
The pharmacy has made the transition to keep medications and all prescriptions filled, along patient history accessible since working in the new building. But, the workload has increased for the staff at the pharmacy, Davis mentioned.
The COVID- 19 vaccination has been a challenging process, Davis said, but she is very thankful the pharmacy is able to distribute the vaccine to the community.
She has been putting in extended hours of work each week ( an average of 80 hours weekly) in order to keep the vaccine process efficient for doses to be distributed. The process has put more on the pharmacy, but Davis is proud to have the opportunity to provide those that wish to be vaccinated despite the extra workload her staff has taken since the COVID- 19 pandemic.
"I feel very blessed to do this. It's been overwhelming, but I thank God for my staff," Davis said.
She also mentioned, through God's grace, she hopes this vaccine will keep people safe and healthy.
Davis added, the pharmacy is following the proper guidelines enforced by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson for distributing the vaccine, which is done in phases.
She has emphasized the importance of the vaccine,
pharmacy manager/ pharmacist, displays a COVID- 19 vaccine. but said she has not received the amount needed to distribute the doses.
Davis noted the pharmacies were tasked to give the COVID- 19 vaccine to healthcare providers and first responders during the week of January 4 through
15. She said Hot Spring County citizens of the age 70 and over and school employees received the COVID- 19 vaccine during the week of January 18, but supplies were severely minimized.
"We received 100 out of 1,000 vaccines— but we are trying our best and we want to immunize all who want it," Davis said.
The pharmacy has completed the task of giving the first dose of vaccine to all school district employees in Hot Spring County and currently have moved to the Phase 1- B process for people 70 years plus. Davis said this will continue to be a process, but the pharmacy plans to give the vaccine to each person who has signed up.
Recently, Hutchinson announced that the eligibility age for receiving the COVID- 19 vaccine has been lowered from 70 to
65. Davis mentioned it has been a daily struggle to balance everything, but request the community's patience through this process. She implied, "It is still a process."
Davis asks that because the pharmacy doesn't have all of its needed resources of the COVID- 19 vaccine at this time, the staff will continue the process as soon as more supplies arrive.
She stated this is going to take some time to get everyone in the current phase vaccinated unless vaccine manufacturing speeds up.
Pharmacists are moving as quickly as possible and managing the increased demand by using scheduling or waitlist platforms.
To help with the vaccine process, Davis has a tent setup on the parking lot of Sykes near the pharmacy that will service people for the vaccine shot. She said the parking lot at the pharmacy was not large enough and is thankful to Sykes for allowing their part of their lot to help with the process. Davis said, the tent is set up Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays from 8: 30 a. m. until 3 p. m. The days the tent isn't set up, Davis mentioned people may come inside the pharmacy for their shot.
Davis mentioned how much she admires and loves to help each of their patients. She knows this has been a difficult process, but wants to inform everyone to consider the convenience of this situation and the pharmacy will indeed help each person with the COVID- 19 vaccine.
The pharmacy also has a traveling vehicle she uses to give the vaccine shot. The vehicle has been helpful and she plans to pro