Our Covid-19 Saviors: Walgreens
In the heart of Burlington, North Carolina resides two different Walgreens located on opposite ends of Church Street. And odds are, you’ve most likely passed at least one of them on your way out of Elon.
At first glance, there’s nothing that stands out about these Walgreens. Walk through the revolving doors and you’re immediately greeted by greeting cards, hygienic products, and an assortment of name brand candy.
Walgreens has seen a spike in activity lately as students compete for Covid vaccine appointment slots. Photo from pixabay.com.
But in the back far right corner you will find the pharmacy, where a miracle is occurring roughly every 15 minutes: another person is receiving the Covid vaccine.
Right now, these Walgreens are the heroes of Covid vaccines— especially for those of us college students looking to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Junior Emily Katz got her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Walgreens next to Harris Teeters where she has shopped numerous times. This time, she was getting something priceless.
Instead of being able to schedule the first one by itself and then the second dose, Walgreen’s website requires you to be able to schedule both appointments before you can do anything. Because of this, available appointments have been tricky to pin down.
“I found it hard to get an appointment in the beginning,” Katz says. “Once I knew I was eligible I was checking [vaccine appointment websites] for the next 48 hours non-stop.”
Katz’s friend ended up being the one to help—texting her at midnight to tell her there were now open appointment spots for Katz to sign herself up for.
“But once I went to Walgreens, it was a lot more efficient,” she shares.
On-site, Walgreens has everything in order and ready to go. First requiring those getting vaccines to fill out consent forms, making sure to answer any questions someone may have, and then being told to sit down in the waiting room for their turn.
The woman who administered the shot to Katz was very pleasant as well. “She was great and really organized,” Katz says.
The Edge encourages you to get your vaccination ASAP! Photo from pixabay.com.
Katz’s friend who was also getting the vaccine at the same time had to have the woman on staff help her with her pre-vaccination paperwork. “She was really funny and sassy, but in a fun way,” she explains.
The woman even let Katz and her friend go into the room to get their shots together for moral support, which Katz says was really nice of her considering the restrictions they have in place for Covid precautions.
The only side effect Katz had was a very sore arm. “The first 24 hours after [my arm] was very painful.”
After that, Katz felt totally normal. Her next appointment is in 3 weeks, where she will receive her second and final dose.
Elon University has just released its plan to have at least 80% of the campus vaccinated by the beginning of May, contingent on the fact that North Carolina has done well so far in administering the doses quickly.
Student workers are currently eligible to sign up for Covid vaccines and beginning April 7, all students living in dorms and apartments will become eligible to receive their shots.
Find and schedule your vaccinations here!