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Elm Grove Walgreens Busy With COVID-19 Vaccinations

FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2020 file photo, prepared COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine syringes are seen at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Ill. The U.S. government is negotiating with Pfizer to acquire tens millions of additional vaccine doses in exchange for helping the pharmaceutical giant gain better access to manufacturing supplies. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

WHEELING — Business at the Elm Grove Walgreens has gotten a shot in the arm now that West Virginia has expanded its COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

West Virginia officials announced last week vaccinations are now available for all state residents age 50 and older, as well as all West Virginia education workers over the age of 40.

Many of the newly eligible quickly pre-registered for the vaccine through a link at the state Department of Health and Human Services website at dhhr.wv.gov leading to the WV COVID-19 Vaccine Registration System. It didn’t take long for some to be contacted to schedule their appointments, and directed to their local Walgreens store early this week.

Starting in the middle of last month, the state partnered with Walgreens to distribute vaccine doses throughout West Virginia. On Wednesday, several people waited outside the pharmacy in the Elm Grove Walgreens for their turn.

“Most people coming in appear to be happy getting their shots,” said pharmacist Pam Lizon on Wednesday. “We’ve been extremely busy.”

The Ohio County Health Department oversees the larger vaccination clinic happening most days at the former Michael’s store at The Highlands. There, multiple people can be scheduled to receive a shot at the same time. At Walgreens, one person at a time is taken into an office to receive their shot.

Both locations are offering the two-shot Pfizer vaccine, and scheduling for both locations is done through the WV COVID-19 Vaccine Registration System. The second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is to be administered in 21 days.

Lizon administers the vaccine with an especially light touch.

She advised patients receiving shots at Walgreens on Wednesday that if they aren’t contacted by the state for their second appointment before March 30, they should contact the Walgreens store.

“We won’t leave our customers hanging,” she said. “The vaccines are provided by the state, and the distribution won’t stop.”

Patients getting their vaccine Wednesday were verbally asked a series of questions after arrival. The first of these was, “Are you feeling sick today?”

The same set of questions was then presented to the patient in a written form to complete.

Patients were asked to remain in the store for about 15 minutes following their shot to see if they had any adverse reactions. Most do not.

Karen Fatula Compton was among those receiving the shot Wednesday morning, and she rested on a chair following the experience.

“I feel dizzy,” she said. “It started as soon as she gave me the shot. I suppose it will get better. I’m just waiting for the feeling to pass.”

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