Mobile vaccine unit schedules stops in FCity

‘Operation Vaccinate Our Community’ to provide one-dose shot for residents

Residents who want to receive the one-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine will have four opportunities on Wednesday.

“Operation Vaccinate Our Community” will kick off at 8 a.m., when the Baptist Health Mobile Unit sets up at the Multipurpose Center to give shots to anyone ages 16 and older who wants to receive one.

According to Forrest City Mayor Cedric Williams, the shot clinic at the Multipurpose Center will be a drive-through only event, and those wanting to receive a shot will be required to show identification.

Shots will be administered at the Multipurpose Center until noon, after which the mobile unit will travel to Grobmyer Circle where shots will be available from 1 to 2 p.m. The Turner Circle complex will host the mobile unit from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., before it ends the day at the Rice and Mann housing complex where shots will be administered from 4 to 5 p.m.

Another vaccination clinic is scheduled for Sunday at the Multipurpose Center, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This clinic will also offer a drive-through option for those wanting to receive the vaccine.

Registration is not required for the Wednesday vaccination opportunity, but is for Sunday’s vaccine clinic.

Those needing to register for Sunday’s clinic should go online to bit.ly/april1, according to Williams.

“We would like all who want a vaccine to get the vaccine,” said Williams. “If you need help registering for the Sunday clinic or if you have additional questions, contact city hall at 870-633-1315.”

Although the statewide mask mandate has been lifted, Williams encourages everyone to continue wearing masks and to get vaccinated.

“If you have not yet received your vaccination, please make every effort to attend one of these vaccination clinics,” said Williams.

Locally, the demand for vaccinations appears to be declining, according to Justin Breezeel, with Forrest City Family Pharmacy.

"It seems like demand has fallen," said Breezeel. "We are giving 200 to 300 vaccinations, and are getting roughly 300 to 400 a week."

Breezeel said the pharmacy is currently receiving only the Moderna vaccine, but has begun the paperwork to receive Johnson & Johnson vaccine as well.

"We will be giving those at the clinic Sunday," said Breezeel of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Breezeel said that even though Gov. Asa Hutchinson has lowered the vaccination eligibility to those who are 16 years old and above, the only vaccine currently approved for the younger age group is Pfizer.

"Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are only approved for 18 and up," said Breezeel, adding that he is not aware of any local vaccinations recently with the Pfizer doses.

Breezeel said he believes that if the Pfizer vaccine became available, 16 to 18 year olds would probably need parental consent before they could be vaccinated.

"I think if you are between 16 and 18 you probably do, but we don't have Pfizer, so I've not read up on that yet," said Breezeel.

He said that once vaccinations are approved for youth, the pharmacy would not be opposed to visiting schools and other locations to administer vaccinations much like they do the flu shots.

"We have given flu vaccines at a couple of locations," said Breezeel. "So, I am sure we would do a Covid one if they wanted to do a yearly shot too."