Local pharmacists continue to play waiting game with state on getting more COVID-19 vaccines

YOUNGWOOD, Pa. — Hayden’s Pharmacy has a waiting list with more than 21,000 names on it for people anxious to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Unfortunately, the Westmoreland County pharmacy hasn’t been able to administer any COVID-19 shots this week.

Hayden’s owner, Ed Christofano, said it’s because the Pennsylvania Department of Health received less than half of the 706,000 vaccine doses it ordered this week from the federal government.

Christofano requested 2,300 doses this week, but didn’t get a single one.

“It is a little bit difficult not knowing exactly what is coming and when it’s coming,” he said.

Last week, Christofano immunized nearly 1,700 people in a span of five days, but now he’s in a holding pattern.

“We’re able to move the vaccines through the pharmacy and get them into the arms they’re intended within a maximum of 48 hours. The issue is getting the supply in to keep that moving,” he said.

Just 5% of the 349,000 people who live in Westmoreland County have been vaccinated.

According to Christofano, the state’s expansion of the phase 1A category is only part of the problem.

“They’re also prioritizing hot spot counties over other areas of the Commonwealth, but to me, the supply and demand issue is higher up on the food chain,” he said.

Christofano has a word of advice for those who are wishing and waiting to roll up their sleeves.

“We just ask people to be patient. We understand the panic, the hysteria and we’re all in this together. It’s just a matter of letting the systems and processes work through. We will respond as soon as we get the vaccine,” he said.

Christofano estimates it could take at least four to six weeks just to get through the current waiting list for the first dose of the vaccine.

You can still sign up and schedule an appointment for the vaccine on Hayden’s Pharmacy website.

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