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Why some pharmacies are unable to distribute COVID-19 vaccine

Why some pharmacies are unable to distribute COVID-19 vaccine
Posted at 7:39 PM, Feb 22, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-23 00:34:16-05

COLORADO SPRINGS — For most vaccines, you can get them from a practitioner, a pharmacy, or your medical provider.

However, when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, that isn't necessarily the case.

Ivywild Pharmacy is a local, independent pharmacy in Colorado Springs.

When the COVID-19 vaccinations were rolling out, they filled out all the paperwork to distribute the doses, however they weren't given the green light.

Pharmacist, Shannon Bethel, says their pharmacy set up wasn't fit for the vaccines.

"You need special freezers for that and we couldn't get that at that time," said Bethel.

According to Bethel, the doses have to be stored in a freezer that is 40 degrees below zero, which Ivywild couldn't do.

So their patients have had to look elsewhere.

"I direct them to UCHealth because I would like to see all of our people get vaccinated," said Bethel.

While most of Bethel's patients have still been able to get vaccinated, "We have better access than going to the big max vaccination clinics, there are people here in the neighborhood."

But for now, they are out of luck.

Bethel believes that should change, so small pharmacies like this can serve their local neighborhood community, better.

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