MT. PLEASANT, Mich. (WJRT) (05.03.2021) – There is an opportunity to fade for people in the northern part of the ABC12 viewing area: one of the largest pharmacy chains in the state – Rite Aid – says it has more vaccines than meetings and searches people to give.
“I really want to use these doses because so many people need them.”
Jessica Batteen’s job puts her on the front lines of the fight to get as many shots in as many arms as possible. As part of this, the leader of the Rite Aid pharmacy ensures that the vaccination effort of the chain goes smoothly. So what appeared to be a significant excess of doses could not escape his attention.
“Why would you say that these appointments are not fulfilled? Is it a lack of interest or is it a lack of awareness? ”
“I think it’s a lack of awareness and the fact that many of them are online,” she said during a conversation with Zoom on Friday.
Nationwide, Rite Aid regularly receives approximately 75,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine. For many of its clinics, this translates into 200 photos and 200 appointments offered every day, five days a week. In some places, including Mt. Pleasantly, for example, about half of these slots remained unfilled.
“What’s your reaction to that?”
“It’s kind of sad because there are so many people who still need him,” Batteen said.
It’s no secret that there have been many scratches on the head when it comes to who to call, where to go and what to do to get that shot as soon as possible. Health departments, hospitals, clinics – all destroyed at one time or another by the lack of supply and waiting lists of the size of the phone book. Moral for the story: it’s worth a look.
“The number of patients who came to my store while I was there and said thank you, thank you for having this,” Batteen said.
The pharmacy leader recently updated the policies in his stores to make it easier for patients without internet access to do so over the phone.
She encouraged anyone who falls within these CDC guidelines to make an appointment.
“I can easily get a date,” she explained. “It’s live scheduling, so whenever someone misses a date, someone can take that date.”
Again, patients have the ability to do this over the phone or online and, with any luck, sit down for an arm blow later in the day.
To register for an appointment, click here.
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