On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, Sackville’s local pharmacies have been vaccinating people in certain priority groups against COVID-19.

Pharmacist-owner Charles Beaver says that by the end of the day Wednesday, the Corner Drug Store will have administered all of its first shipment of 120 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine to Sackville locals.

CHMA dropped by to catch some of the action which started yesterday afternoon. Here’s that report:

On Tuesday, pharmacist and Corner Drug Store owner Charles Beaver gave the tenth dose of the day to local resident Earl Thompson. The two joked about what the vaccine might do for Thompson’s musical talents, before he revealed his real hope: that it will make it easier for him to visit his wife Eleanor, a resident at the Drew Nursing Home, who has also received the vaccine.

“It’s been a tough year,” says Thompson. “It’s tough enough for people like me in the same boat visiting-wise, but I feel sorry for the people in there that haven’t got anybody handy.”

Thompson waited for 15 minutes in the drug store after his dose, as a precaution in case of a severe allergic reaction. Beaver explains there’s a one in 300,000 to one in a million chance of those, which is why Thompson waits in the pharmacy with a timer ticking away his 15 minutes. It’s also why Beaver is asking people with mobility issues who are driving up to receive the vaccine from a car, have someone with them for at least the same amount of time. Beaver also explains how to avoid a more common effect from the vaccine: a sore shoulder. “If you move that shoulder around at least once every hour until bedtime tonight, you’re gonna find it’s a lot better that way,” says Beaver.

Charles Beaver says the first batch of 120 doses arrived at the Corner Drug Story on Tuesday morning, and will be gone by the end of day Wednesday.

Currently, anyone 80 and older, as well as first responders who are 65 and older, can call a pharmacy to make an appointment to receive their first dose of vaccine.

The Corner Drug Store also offers an online form, where people can pre-register and be contacted once their demographic group becomes eligible.

After waiting his 15 minutes with no adverse effects, Thomspon was free to go, and left with an appointment already made for his second dose, due in 14 weeks’ time.

Anyone with mobility issues should call their pharmacy for accessibility services. Beaver has said that although he and his staff can’t transport the vaccine very far, they can come out and give shots to people in cars, if needed.

Acting Mayor Ron Aiken says that some parking spaces in the lot between Goya’s restaurant and the post office on Main Street have been reserved for those getting a vaccine at either the Corner Drug Store or Jean Coutu.

Nursing Homes Without Walls Senior Navigator Terissa Salmon says that she has received a few calls from seniors living in New Brunswick’s Southeast rural communities, “but surprisingly not a lot.” The organization, which provides services to seniors living in their homes in rural areas, is providing free transportation to registered seniors to get their vaccines. The driver will also sit with them for the 15 minutes after the injection to make sure all is well.

Rural Rides Tantramar is also offering drives to anyone who needs help getting to their vaccine appointment. You can request a vehicle at (506) 988-2101. Those being vaccinated should bring their Medicare card to their appointment, along with any ID to prove their identity.

People with specified complex medical conditions are also eligible for the vaccine, but will be contacted with an appointment at a Horizon or Vitalité clinic.

The Department of Education, as a major employer, is rolling out vaccination clinics for all high school teachers who want a shot. This week, 4,500 staff from high schools province-wide will have the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccination at a clinic in one of 16 locations.

Schools will be closed to students on the days that local clinics are being held to allow staff to be vaccinated and to plan for the full return to school. The Fredericton region has vaccination clinics available for staff from 12 different schools in the area Wednesday. The province will set up clinics for the Tracadie and Moncton regions this Friday, March 26.