Semmes Pharmacy Among Independents Injecting Vaccine

Jessica Hung, a doctor of pharmacy at Semmes Pharmacy in Semmes, Ala., administers a shot of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine | Image Courtesy by Semmes Pharmacy

One of only three independent Alabama pharmacies offering a COVID-19 vaccine in Alabama, AL.com reports, Semmes Pharmacy chose “to receive early doses as a trial run to show that smaller, locally owned pharmacies could help distribute the vaccine,” instead of it being limited to hospitals, doctors’ offices and health departments. It is now booking appointments for up to 120 vaccinations per day (three people every 15 min). The other Alabama independents serving as vanguards for the vaccine are Ritch’s Pharmacy in Mountain Brook and Super Bee Pharmacy in Rainbow City. Between them, they have given more than 2,100 doses of the Moderna vaccine since late December 2020, after converting their stores into “mini-vaccine clinics hosting dozens of vaccine appointments per day.” That amounts to about 2% of the doses given in the state.