A CALL TO
ARMS
A Call To Arms Community Pharmacies Open Doors for Vaccinations Story by Larissa Beriswill | Photos provided by Ben Holter
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hrivers Pharmacy first opened in 1979 in McConnelsville and since then, it has expanded throughout Southeast Ohio and West Virginia. As an independently owned and operated pharmacy which met all necessary criteria, Shrivers was selected to administer the COVID-19 vaccine as opposed to a chain pharmacy. At the beginning of the year, an exclusive group of people, such as healthcare workers and first responders, were given the first dose of the vaccine. Since then, it has been available to various groups of people, following state guidelines. Ohio introduced the vaccine in a phased approach and according to the Ohio Department of Health website, Phase 1A includes healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19, residents and staff in nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, and assisted living facilities and EMS responders. In late January, Ohio opened Phase 1B to Ohioans 65 or older, K-12 faculty and staff who wish to teach in person and any Ohioan with a qualifying illness or disease. For Phase 1B, Shrivers matched the criteria to be a vaccine provider and that opportunity was taken with ease. Ben Holter, a pharmacist at Shrivers and co-owner of two locations, expressed how great this opportunity has been for him as well as the other employees of the chain.
22 | Summer/Fall 2021
“We met all the requirements, but I think another big thing was that all of our retail pharmacies in Southeastern Ohio are part of this,” Holter says. “We have two pharmacies in McArthur and McConnelsville, they’re the only pharmacies located in those entire counties, so I think they saw Shrivers as a good partner in Southeastern Ohio to provide access.” As for the vaccine itself, Holter explained the timeline from when the vaccine arrives at a location to the actual inoculation of a patient. First, the vaccine is shipped overnight to the pharmacy directly from the manufacturer. An initial number of vials are distributed each week, and everything is tracked, including the number of doses administered, how many are left and if there were any wasted. When delivered, it comes in a temperature-controlled box with an electronic device that shows if the temperature was above or below what it should be. After the device is checked, the doses are moved to a refrigerator or freezer and a temperature log is filled out throughout the day. Holter purchased a device to track temperature change in the refrigerators/freezers and receives a notification if there has been any fluctuation. When the doses are ready to be given, the injection process takes about five minutes. However, patients are kept for an extra 15 minutes to ensure there are no harsh side effects.
