CARLISLE DRIVE THROUGH COVID CLINIC
Article wrote by Peggy Hugen for the Indianola Independent Advocate.
A line of cars wrapped around the Carlisle Fire Station usually means it’s time for a pancake breakfast. But Monday, it was the site of community partnership to vaccinate Warren County residents against COVID-19.
Carlisle City Library Director Stacy Goodhue said she was talking to Pamela Goode, the local Medicap pharmacist, about the large amount of second doses that needed to get out this week.
“We realized with the sheer amount of people that she had, there was no way we could get them inside the doors of Medicap,” Goodhue said.
Three days later, a full-fledged drive-thru vaccination clinic was planned and executed.
Goodhue said the goal is that if today worked well, “we could continue and do it again when we have even more doses to hand out.”
City officials were all chipping in. The police department handled traffic. Goodhue and her library staff were managing the check-in process. City Administrator Deven Markley was aiding the pharmacists by opening Band-aid packets. Councilman Eric Goodhue was counting vaccines administered. Carlisle Mayor Drew Merrifield was adhering stickers to vaccination cards and the city’s fire department/EMT staff watched over patients for reactions.
Norwalk resident Kenny McCauley said he looked up appointment times online and didn’t hesitate to travel to Carlisle to get his vaccine.
“The first dose went great,” he said.
He said he thinks getting the vaccine is important because, “Well, I didn’t want to catch COVID.”
Despite having a reaction to his first shot, Randy Lane of Carlisle, was back for his second dose. Twelve hours after the first dose, he had chills and some vomiting. He plans to lay low for a few days, but regardless of the reactions, felt it important to be vaccinated, he said.
Medicap pharmacist Pamela Goode said the overall vaccine administration has been a roller coaster, much like everything in a pandemic.
“But I’m so blessed to be in this community and have an amazing support system,” she said. “This is awesome. This all took place with two phone calls in three days.”
Markley, the city administrator, agreed.
“There’s a good benefit for the city and also outside the community,” he said.
Kay Peck, of Carlisle, received her second vaccine Monday. The longtime preschool teacher said she didn’t hesitate to sign up.
“Well, because of my age, I think it’s very important,” she said.
Cheri Schmit, director of clinical pharmacy for Medicap’s corporate office, said today was the first drive-thru vaccine clinic she’s participated in.
“The main takeaway of this day is this whole community coming together,” she said.
Without a drive-thru, she said, it would have taken most of a day to administer 100 vaccines, adding that in-store, it averages 1 shot per 6 to 10 minutes.
“Here, we can do it all in a couple of hours,” she said. “How they’re all working together is pretty cool.”
The full article can be viewed on the Indianola Independent Advocate’s website.
