Locally-owned pharmacies waiting for their role in COVID vaccine rollout
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) As the COVID vaccine rollout continues across the Central Coast, many locally-owned pharmacies are wondering when they will get to play a part in the effort.
Entering into nearly a year after the first COVID-19 shutdown began across California, there are new concerns now over another surge in March. Even with vaccinations rolling out, new variants of the coronavirus threaten to curtail the progress we've made.
"Despite vaccination happening as quickly as we get the vaccine supply, it's likely not going to be quick enough to cope with the more transmissible variants," said Dr. Gail Newel, the Santa Cruz County health officer.
Some good news, however: a third COVID vaccine could be on the way from Johnson and Johnson. The company has now requested an emergency use authorization for their doses. Local officials are suggesting it could be a game changer to the rollout effort.
"It's a fairly inexpensive vaccine. But perhaps more importantly, it's a single dose and it's much easier to store," said Dr. David Ghilarducci.
"I think had the state allowed us to do it and given it to us, we could've got it done to our facilities, to our patients and set up vaccination sites. Yes, we totally could have done it," said Chris Quesenberry, the owner of Horsnyder and Westside Pharmacies.
Locally-owned pharmacies in Santa Cruz County are bemoaning the fact they have been forgotten in the rollout plans. While state and federal officials are focusing on bigger chain pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, smaller ones say they have got what it take to help.
"We're independent, we have the staff, we have the capabilities, we do injections here as it is," said Quesenberry.
She says because the vaccine supply is under federal guidelines right now, they will not give any doses to independent pharmacies until it fall back to state guidelines that allows wholesalers to carry the vaccines.
There are around five locally-owned pharmacies in the Santa Cruz area. Owners say they could make a difference.
"I know back East, they gave injections to a local pharmacy and they got almost their whole town done," said Quesenberry.
Santa Cruz County health officials say they are expecting a surge late March, with an increase in hospitalizations and deaths in April.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE: Locally-owned pharmacies in Santa Cruz County tell KION they are waiting for their part to play in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout happening across the state right now.
The owner of Westside Pharmacy in Santa Cruz says they are ready, staffed and capable of giving out doses when the state allows them to.
KION's Josh Kristianto will have more tonight at 10 and 11 p.m.
