Sunset Park Pharmacies Contact Patients for Vaccination

Stephen shows the arm where he received the coronavirus vaccine. He says he’s been trying to get an appointment for weeks but was sent too far. Now he was able to get vaccinated at the pharmacy in front of his house: “It’s the best, it helps the community. I called 311 and at 311 they had nothing for Brooklyn, except for the Bronx.”

And it is that pharmacies increased the list of people they can serve. Now they already include people with chronic diseases, in addition to adults over 60 and teachers.

In neighborhoods like Sunset Park, pharmacies have played an important role in getting the Latino community vaccinated.

A neighbor comments on the matter: “Of course, because many people do not have access to travel, like the old men; there are many old men around here, to go on a train to get on, I couldn’t find a place.”

While Martha González was called by her pharmacy to get vaccinated. Now she convinces her friends to get vaccinated and she has already succeeded: “I don’t care if they put it on me next month, but they put it here.”

This increase in the number of people who can be vaccinated in local pharmacies improves access for those neighbors who had difficulties to get an appointment online; since they only have to contact the pharmacy by phone or come in person to sign up. “I don’t have to go far, I don’t have to make an appointment, I don’t have internet, I don’t have an advanced phone,” explains yet another person.

Some Brooklyn pharmacy owners said they did not have enough customers under the above restrictions, but this pharmacy on the corner of 44th Street and Fifth Avenue administers about 30 vaccines a day and asks for increased distribution now that it has spread. eligibility.

And according to Sumit Desai, owner, VLS Pharmacy: “There are many people with chronic diseases in this area and we know them and make them feel comfortable. But right now we only have three doses left, we need more.”

Some of the chronic conditions that make people eligible to receive the vaccine in local pharmacies are diabetes problems, some type of cancer, heart problems or morbid obesity problems.

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