[WCNC] ‘It’s just trickling in compared to before’ | Demand for vaccines low as restrictions are rolled back

Vaccinations

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Across North Carolina, 7.8 million vaccines have been given, and top health officials want to keep the momentum going, especially after relaxing some COVID-19 restrictions.

As of Friday, people who are fully vaccinated do not have to wear masks inside or outside most places. Gov. Roy Cooper also got rid of capacity requirements and social distancing guidelines.

Health experts say COVID-19 is not gone; metrics show people are still getting sick. Data shows vaccines are working and as long as people are not vaccinated, they’re still at risk.

Carolina Pharmacy manager Kavel Bhathela is drawing up less vaccine than he had been even just a few weeks ago.

“We’re still seeing folks come in, it’s just trickling in compared to before,” he said.

By now, every adult who really wanted a shot has gotten one. Even though the Governor rolled back many restrictions, there’s still a need to get more shots in arms.

“Obviously the hope is to have as many people vaccinated whether you’re 12 to 16 or 16 to 100,” Dr. Lewis McCurdy with Atrium Health said. “We’d like to continue to encourage people to get immunized.”

The sooner more people get shots, the better. As COVID-19 lingers, it will continue to be a threat.

“The more people who get vaccinated, the less chance we have for variants to develop in our communities,” Dr. David Priest with Novant Health said.

But as of last week, 12- to 15-year-olds are able to get the Pfizer vaccine. The age group is a new opportunity. There’s demand and excitement about the shots again.

“I’m very excited,” 14-year-old Jocelyn Gaines told WCNC Charlotte after she got her COVID-19 vaccine at Novant Health’s clinic in East Charlotte. It’s not something many kids say about needles.

But Gaines knows the benefits of getting vaccinated.

“I got my shot because I want to see my friends again,” she said.

A lot of kids her age feel the same way and many rushed out to roll up their sleeves.

“It will just make me feel safer and it seems like a step forward from what we have been through in the past year,” 12-year-old Joey Rising said.

It’s excitement vaccine providers haven’t seen in recent weeks.

Carolina Pharmacy just got its shipments of Pfizer and they’re ready to vaccinate this new age group.

“The 12 and up age group is super important because kids are going to be going back to school in the fall and camp over the summer,” Bhathela said.

And there’s some hope demand could spike again as a result.

“I think it does open up the opportunity to certainly increase a new group of people who can get vaccinated which will help with herd immunity and perhaps it will encourage their older siblings and their parents or grandparents to also come with them to get vaccinated if they haven’t,” McCurdy said.

Lower demand for shots raises another issue too. More doses going to waste than before.

“There are times where we have to toss vaccine and that just is due to the fact that it only lasts several hours after you puncture the vial,” Bhathela said. “We typically will try to ask folks who come in the store have they been vaccinated yet we have extra doses if they want to get it today and that typically works.”

He’s hopeful the interest from teens will help keep doses from going to waste.

There are plenty of opportunities to get vaccinated. Anyone who gets a first or second dose through StarMed Healthcare this week will be entered into a raffle for an Xbox.

Link to WCNC article

Contact Chloe Leshner at cleshner@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Carolina Pharmacy to Host Prescription Drug Take Back Event in North and South Carolina

Vitamins to Boost Your Immune System Against COVID-19

Take Back boxes will be stationed at two Carolina Pharmacy locations

Charlotte, N.C., April 19, 2021 — The public is invited to drop off unwanted, unused, or expired prescription drugs at a Take Back event hosted by local independent pharmacy Carolina Pharmacy on Friday, April 23. To support a larger national campaign to encourage safe disposal of prescriptions and fight the opioid epidemic in the United States, protected “Take Back boxes” will be set up at two Carolina Pharmacy locations for quick, convenient disposal of medication that is no longer needed or is out of date.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of unneeded, unused, or expired prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host its official Take Back Day on Saturday, April 24.

“Education and drug safety are two topics we talk about frequently with our patients,” said Vic Patel, CEO, Carolina Pharmacy. “We consider ourselves caretakers of the community, so if we can be a local resource, we’re more than proud to do our part to help in the fight to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.”

A majority of misused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. From 1999 to 2016, more than 12,000 people in North Carolina died from opioid-related overdoses.

The locations and hours of Carolina Pharmacy’s Take Back boxes on April 23 are as follows:

  • Carolina Pharmacy – Arboretum (Arboretum Office Park)
    8035 Providence Rd #300, Charlotte
    9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Carolina Pharmacy – Rock Hill (The Commons at Winthrop)
    725 N. Cherry Rd Suite 103, Rock Hill
    9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

**Onsite interviews can be arranged with advance notice; contact logan@foggmedia.com.**

For more information about Carolina Pharmacy visit carolinapharmacy.com or connect with them on Facebookand Instagram.

WCNC Features Carolina Pharmacy on COVID-19 Vaccines

Independent pharmacies eager to help distribute COVID-19 vaccine

As vaccines roll out across North and South Carolina, many pharmacies are looking to help administer doses. They want to provide additional vaccination locations to give people more options in closer neighborhoods.

Like many pharmacies, Carolina Pharmacy is used to providing prescriptions, but we have also stepped up to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carolina Pharmacy provides medications, prescriptions, and COVID-19 testing in Charlotte and has been busy throughout the pandemic. We currently offer the Rapid antigen, Rapid RT-LAMP, and PCR tests in select locations.

Carolina Pharmacy is preparing for the day they get the vaccine and can help create a sense of normalcy. You can sign up for a vaccination waitlist as we get the process started.

For now, we are waiting our turn for the supply of the COVID shot. However, vaccine supply hasn’t kept up with demand. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 11.9% of the North Carolina population is fully vaccinated.

The North Carolina Health Department has distributed the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to four different pharmacies. There is an effort to expand distribution and build trust in underserved communities. 

Carolina Pharmacy wants to help its patients and take care of the community in an orderly way. As supplies increase, we are awaiting the call for vaccine rollouts. When we get the vaccine, we are prepared to administer it to hundreds of patients at a time.

The paperwork is in as our team waits for its spot to get the shot. 

Check out the news clip above from WCNC Charlotte featuring Carolina Pharmacy. Contact us for additional information or to schedule a COVID-19 test.

WSOC-TV Features Carolina Pharmacy In Making COVID-19 Tests Accessible To Everyone

WSOC-TV Features Carolina Pharmacy In Making COVID-19 Tests Accessible to Everyone

As COVID-19 testing becomes a part of our norm this 2021, Carolina Pharmacy serves as COVID-19 testing sites in Charlotte, Rock Hill, Lancaster, Greenville, and Lake Norman. Since November 2020, our team extended our support to the local healthcare community by providing localized testing services such as curbside COVID antigen and RT-PCR tests.

In cooperation with Mako Medical Laboratories and the local health department, any patient that is either symptomatic or asymptomatic(no symptoms of COVID-19) can get tested in any of our testing sites. Patients are tested at the comfort of their vehicle to minimize close contact and avoid overcrowding,   

In addressing the public health concern about charging for COVID tests, our CEO Chi Patel explains to WSOC-TV why we bill patients for our COVID testing services. Carolina Pharmacy is an independent pharmacy in Charlotte, and we cannot bill insurance companies, unlike other community testing centers and hospitals. 

Though Carolina Pharmacy straight-up charges for COVID tests, patients can be assured that there will be no ‘surprise billing’ along the way. Our antigen tests are $120, and RT-PCR tests or molecular tests are at $160

Patients can also use their FSA and HSA to pay for COVID tests. Otherwise, we provide an email with an attached itemized receipt so patients can reimburse the testing costs to their respective insurance providers. 

Our frequent patients are those who need a negative test result for work and travel. Other hospitals and medical facilities also refer patients to us if they want to get same-day test results.  

Carolina Pharmacy aims to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus by identifying the active cases in our community. We believe that in our fight against the contagious COVID-19, we cannot solve what we cannot measure. COVID test results are the benchmark if we are successful in implementing stringent safety protocols. You can get tested in one of our testing sites below:

If you want to learn more about our testing policies, check our FAQs here. You may also schedule your tests now or contact us for more details. You can check out our monthly posts for more COVID updates and topics.    

You have frequent episodes of crying for little or no reason. DO NOT change or stop medicines without talking to your provider. cialis new zeland Continue attending conversational therapy sessions.

Carolina Pharmacy Joins The Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte Event

Charlotte, NC, March 9, 2019 – We are proud to announce that Carolina Pharmacy joined The 2019 Casino Night. This event was hosted by the Charlotte Pediatric Society benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. The event was held on March 9, 2019, at the Carmel Country Club from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM.  

The Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte Event

The event included a quick program and a silent auction. 100% of the proceeds of the auction were given directly to the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte.

Everyone was encouraged to visit all areas as there were plenty of gaming tables throughout the venue. There were food and beverage stations as well. For more information, visit https://www.rmhofcharlotte.org/casino-night.html.

About Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte

The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is known as The House that Love Built®. They provide safe, caring and affordable homes for families of patients receiving treatment at medical facilities in the Charlotte area. These are “home-away-from-home” for families whose children are admitted in the hospitals of Charlotte, NC. Through this program, they have increased the ability of these families, especially parents, to spend time and interact with their child. The RMHC programs are tailored to address the most urgent needs of their community. Every year, they strive to improve the health and well being of almost 3.7 million children across 43 countries and around the globe. Visit https://www.rmhofcharlotte.org/ to learn more about their programs and services.

About Carolina Pharmacy Group

Carolina Pharmacy is all about providing optimum care and services in the Charlotte and surrounding areas. We are committed to providing the best healthcare support in an affordable way. Our team of professional and experienced pharmacists takes the time to get to know you and understand your health condition. We aim to ensure that patients get the best medication and other health needs with the utmost care and attention. We also welcome questions and consultations to help you understand your medical needs.

At Carolina Pharmacy, we pride ourselves with exceptional services including non-sterile compounding, pharmacogenetic testing, and health management such as diabetes, hypertension and weight loss management. Our goal is to help patients make healthy choices for life. Visit the nearest Carolina Pharmacy in your community.

Turn Dissatisfied Customers into Fans

Health Mart® Turns Dissatisfied Customers into Loyal Fans

Health Mart® has once again taken the toll on providing outstanding services to customers and patients across the United States in 2018. They have achieved a higher customer satisfaction rating compared to other pharmaceutical chains, such as Walgreens and CVS.

Health Mart® has been adopting a consistent approach to overcoming frustrated customers and turning them into loyal fans. They have turned most complaints into an opportunity of creating loyal fans and boosting customer satisfaction. As customers vent their frustrations, Health Mart® understands these frustrations, addresses their issues, and presents a solution to win them over. To learn more about this awesome news about Health Mart®, visit here.

This exceptional approach is made available to customers through locally owned, independent pharmacies, such as Carolina Pharmacy. Carolina Pharmacy is a locally-owned, independent pharmacy operating under the Health Mart® pharmacy network. Health Mart® enables Carolina Pharmacy to offer unique and useful clinical services to its patients.

Carolina Pharmacy aims to ensure that patients and customers receive the best healthcare services that they deserve.

You may contact us at 1-833-MY-PHARM or visit any Carolina Pharmacy for more information. You may also read more on this exciting news here.

Medicare Part D 2019 Open Enrollment

Medicare Part D 2019 Open Enrollment

Medicare Part D is also known as the Medicare prescription drug benefit. This is an optional program granted by the U.S. federal government to help beneficiaries pay for their self-administered prescription drugs. Payment is made through prescription drug insurance premiums.

How do I know I am eligible for Medicare Part D?

Individuals who are signed up for benefits under Medicare Part A or Part B or both Part A and B are eligible for the prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D. Beneficiaries may obtain the benefits of Part D through these 2 types of plan:

1. Stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) for drug coverage only.

2. Public Part C health plan that jointly covers hospital, medical services, and additional health care costs.

Take note, however, that for you to choose Medicare Part C, you must be signed up for both Medicare Part A and B. For Medicare Part D, on the other hand, signing up with Medicare Part A alone or Medicare Part B alone is enough. Thus, most individuals opt for Medicare Part D.

Free 30-Minute Medicare Part D Consultation

What is great about turning 65?

For many American workers, turning 65 is something to celebrate about. As they enter their senior years, they also attain their Medicare eligibility.

Millions of Americans suffer from conditions and at the same time are unable to receive treatment because of the exclusions for pre-existing conditions. For individuals who signed up for Medicare, exclusions for treatment are generally lifted. Despite the eligibility granted by Medicare, seniors still need to be aware of the circumstances that could cost them a fortune.

Carolina Pharmacy offers free 30-minutes in-store consultations for seniors about Medicare plans. Our aim is to educate seniors about Medicare Part D and help prevent them from falling into major gaps in health coverage.

The consultation will start with a short health survey because we want to take the time to get to know you better. During the consultation, we will discuss with you how we can help each other improve your health.

Although this consultation lasts for only half an hour, we can help our seniors who are signed up for Medicare plans to save tens of thousands of dollars. The free consultation can also help take the worry and frustration about processing the prescription drug coverage.

At Carolina Pharmacy, we also encourage caregivers and other family members to attend the consultation. This way, they can also understand the medication coverage of their loved ones.

The 2019 Open Enrollment for Medicare Part D plans starting on October 15, 2018 and runs until December 7, 2018.

Remember that good health does not need to cost you your wealth. At Carolina Pharmacy, we are committed to helping you save on your prescription cost.

Visit Carolina Pharmacy at Woodland Drive, Lancaster, Airport Road, Lancaster, Meeting Street, Lancaster, Arboretum, Cotswold, and Rock Hill for your Medicare Part D enrollment. You may also contact us at 1-833-MY-PHARM and schedule your free consultation and enrollment today!

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