Certain members of Phase 1B of the Arkansas Department of Health’s (ADH) COVID-19 vaccine rollout received their first doses of the vaccine Monday in the Twin Lakes Area.
People ages 70-and-over, teachers and school staff, childcare and higher education workers were eligible receive the vaccination, beginning this week. Personnel from the Mountain Home School District, along with daycare workers in Baxter and Marion counties, began to receive vaccine during an inoculation clinic at Baxter Regional Medical Center (BRMC).
A second clinic will follow on Friday in the Vada Sheid Community Development Center on the campus of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home for employees of the Cotter, Norfork, Flippin and Yellville-Summit public school districts, Mountain Home Christian Academy and the remainder of daycare workers in Baxter and Marion counties. That clinic will be administered by Heartland and Medi Save pharmacies, according to a statement from BRMC’s social media.
Information has been released piecemeal from the ADH on the vaccination plan, leaving many, including those age 70-and-over, in the dark on how to receive the vaccine. Late last week, ADH released a list of pharmacies in each county set to administer vaccines. In Baxter County, only Heartland and Medi Save were chosen.
Other locations selected by county are: Harps Pharmacy in Yellville, Marion County; Mitchell’s Park Street Pharmacy in Calico Rock and Corner Drug Store in Melbourne, Izard County; Pharmacy Barn in Viola and Palace Drug in Salem; Harps Pharmacy, Sam Alexander Pharmacy and Sullivan Pharmacy, all in Harrison, Boone County; Best Drug Store and Mitchell’s Main Street Pharmacy in Mountain View, Stone County; and the Boston Mountain Rural Health Clinic in Marshall, Searcy County.
Instructions on how private pharmacies should administer vaccines had been limited, with pharmacy jurisdictions uncertain. ADH’s only instructions say for those seeking a vaccine to “only contact one provider.” Reports are emerging that some seeking vaccinations have received word they must be vaccinated in the county in which they reside.
Pharmacist Scott Bryant of Medi Save says those ages 70-and-over should contact the pharmacy at 870-424-4010, where their call will be answered, and they will be placed on a waiting list. Heartland Pharmacy has constructed an online application form available via heartland-rx.com. The application must be filled out, and applicants will be contacted.
Baxter Regional also addressed its current vaccine situation.
“Baxter Regional has requested a large supply of vaccine doses to vaccinate persons 70 years of age and older in accordance with the plan announced by Governor Asa Hutchinson,” the facility says in a statement. “The plan calls for partial ‘Phase 1B’ vaccinations, but we have not received confirmation at this time from the State if or when those will be made available for us to distribute.
“We do know at this time that there are simply not enough doses in the State to vaccinate all eligible Arkansans. We estimate that it will take thousands of doses to vaccinate our 70+ population, which we do not have,” the statement adds. “The Arkansas Department of Health expects to receive additional supplies each week and will work to make them available as quickly as possible.”
Baxter Regional asks the public to “hold all inquiry calls regarding the vaccine at this time.” The facility will issue updates as warranted.
Dr. Jake Long, superintendent of Mountain Home Public Schools, expects a robust turnout from MHPS employees.
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Long says the start of inoculations locally is a bright spot, adding he is proud of the way the Mountain Home Public School district has handled the school year.
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While the vaccine is the first step towards ending the pandemic, Long says all protective procedures must continue in the district.
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“I have to extend my gratitude to Baxter Regional Medical Center and its staff for the opportunity to get his vaccine for the MHPS employees,” Long adds.
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