Shop Rite Pharmacy has begun administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine effective Tuesday, Jan. 5, and have held a busy schedule every weekday since.
“We administered our first dose to long-term care facilities and have administered 100 vaccines so far. With an additional 1,000 vaccines on order, we hope to assist in vaccinating as many individuals in our community that are interested in receiving the vaccine,” stated Dr. Ashely Dunmire Parker, owner of Shop Rite Pharmacy.
Scheduling an appointment
The demand for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination is high right now. During a recent interview with Parker, she said that there is a waiting list for people who wish to receive the vaccine. To be added to this waiting list, contact Shop Rite by calling 478-237-7032. After a brief interview to see if individuals meet current requirements, the name of interested parties will be added to the waiting list to receive the vaccination. Once the vaccine is available, individuals will be contacted to schedule an appointment. Please note that the current expected wait time to receive the vaccination is estimated to be anywhere between two to three weeks.
Once receiving the first dosage of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, individuals receiving the vaccine will be scheduled to receive the second dosage in 28 days.
“The purpose of receiving the vaccination in two rounds is to aid in the body building up enough immunity to protect individuals against the virus,” Parker explained.
Payment
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccination is free to all uninsured patients, and insured individuals are not required to pay co-payments for administered vaccinations.
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccination fact check
Individuals who have already contacted COVID-19 and have recovered are still encouraged to obtain the vaccination if desired.
“Although an individual would have developed some natural immunity to the virus, it is still recommended by the CDC to be vaccinated,” Parker further commented.
Many individuals may question if there are negative results stemming from individuals who have received the vaccination. When speaking to Parker, she advised that as of Monday, Jan. 11, the only negative reactions reported are expected symptoms, which include a mild headache, mild body aches and temperature that should typically all reside within 24-48 hours after receiving the vaccination.
Who can currently receive the vaccination
Although the vaccination will be made available to all qualified individuals within the county eventually, Shop Rite’s primary focus for vaccination include healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents as well as staff, essential workers such as firefighters, EMS, police, first responders, and others in public works, and individuals aged 65 years and older and their direct caregivers. High risk population with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, are still encouraged to receive the vaccine when scheduled times become available.
“We ask that our community is patient and understanding as we work through our massive list of individuals waiting to receive the vaccine. We are working as quickly and diligently as possible to get as many vaccinated as possible while keeping your health and safety is our top priority,” Parker concluded.
