ROLLING UP SLEEVES
3,500 vaccinated in North Penn-Skippack Pharmacy clinic
>> A week after its first successful effort, North Penn High School was again transformed Sunday into a temporary COVID-19 vaccination clinic as roughly 3,500 people were inoculated.
“This is great. It’s [the] community coming together, and making sure we’re stronger as we get through the pandemic,” said Jonathan Kassa, a member of North Penn School Board. “To be able to use a building that the community pays for, for shots that make the community healthy, this is what it’s all about.”
Those in the 1A priority group were eligible to participate in the marathon vaccination event hosted by Skippack Pharmacy at the school, 1340 S. Valley Forge Road. Vaccinations were available with previously scheduled appointments from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Montgomery County pharmacy put on a vaccination clinic last weekend at the Lansdale high school. Lines stretched around portions of the school’s perimeter as people waited in spring-like conditions. Around 3,000 people received a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
This time, the forecast called for rain and cooler temperatures.
Still, Skippack Pharmacy owner and pharmacist Dr. Mayank Amin said earlier Sunday
morning that “so far the rain has not stopped anything from happening.”
“Somehow it’s running even more smoothly because we don’t have that line that’s backed up and yet there are plenty of people getting shots in arms,” Kassa said. “So it seems people are really sticking to the time slots.”
With the line forming in the school’s front lobby, participants checked in for their appointments, walked to the high school gym-turned vaccination room, and headed to another gym for the 15-minute observation period before checking out.
Amin added that all 3,500 appointments were booked as of Sunday afternoon.
Among the hundreds of volunteers who gave their time to work Sunday’s clinic was state Sen. Maria Collett, D-12th Dist. The Pennsylvania legislator is also a registered nurse.
“I’ll tell you what — there’s nothing better than getting the opportunity to exercise that nursing muscle that I have. I’m so happy to be here,” she said. “People are so grateful, and I understand it because it’s something we’ve been waiting so long for. They’re incredibly happy, and I’m incredibly happy to be part of it.” Collett also administered shots at Upper Dublin Township offices on Thursday.
Schwenksville resident Tracy Frank said receiving her dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will bring her one step closer to reuniting with her family.
“[It’s] a big relief,” she said. “I have elderly parents who have health issues, and I’ve been staying away from them because of this.”
Teresa Henning, of Lansdale, compared the pain to that of getting a flu shot. She works a job in retail and is also looking forward to “being able to go see my mom.”
Ashley Henderson, of Collegeville, said she felt “no pain at all. I was very surprised.”
In three weeks, Sunday’s participants will return for their second dose, but for many, being fully vaccinated will “hopefully [bring] an end to this darn pandemic,” Frank said.
Clinic volunteer Michele McEvoy congratulated the attendees of Sunday’s vaccination clinic, offered parting words of encouragement and congratulations as they left the high school.
“Oh my gosh just to get them all excited, and I’m just so proud, and so happy for them,” McEvoy said.
“I can see them smiling even though they have masks on,” Kassa said.
“It feels like we’re actually moving the ball forward,” Collett said. “We’re really getting to people that need this vaccine, getting shots in arms, and all of this wouldn’t be possible without the great work of Skippack Pharmacy and North Penn High School.”
“So thanks to both of them for volunteering the doses, and volunteering the space, and to all of these incredible people here who are a testament to how important it is to our community that we get these shots into arms,” she continued. Kassa agreed. “This is the value of public-private partnership,” he said, adding that “it’s a real example hopefully to people in Harrisburg, and across the state, to realize — give us the shots, and the community will get them in the arms. People want it.”
U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4th Dist., helped with Sunday’s vaccination clinic, as her office coordinated with the Montgomery County pharmacy as well as the school. She handed out pins to Vietnam-era service members earlier in the day as roughly 300 veterans received vaccines prior to the clinic opening.
“A big part of being a congressperson is constituent service,” Dean said. “This is the ultimate constituent service. When we can lift up one veteran, one elderly person, and get them a vaccine and give them that peace of mind — they’re a part of a new world reopening. It’s just thrilling.”
Clinic coordinator Cortney Marengo urged area residents to continue following health and safety guidelines.
“We’re doing our best to get everyone vaccinated,” Marengo said. “What we need the public to do is to wear your mask, follow the guidelines, get your vaccinations if you can, and support the effort to get everybody back in business, back to school and back in public.”
Wearing his signature Superman suit, Amin stressed the importance of community as the inoculation events continue to grow.
“If there’s no other message that comes out of the vaccine clinics that we’ve held, we hope that the community stays together, even way further after this pandemic ends and everyone’s vaccinated,” he said. “That’s what this pandemic, and this vaccine clinic has brought to our community is the sense of community and togetherness.”
“That anything is possible when we all work together,” he continued. “[It] doesn’t matter whether you’re from India, Africa, China, or America, we are people of all backgrounds here today, and we’re all here as one team, one family, one community and we’re gonna keep going together.”