Shepherdstown Pharmacy readies county for flu season with immunization clinics
SHEPHERDSTOWN — Shepherdstown Pharmacy is doing its best to prepare the residents of Shepherdstown and Jefferson County for flu season, starting with a series of immunization clinics held throughout the county.
On Saturday afternoon, Shepherdstown Pharmacy owner Kris Knott worked alongside her pharmaceutical employee, Sarah Knipe, to give the flu vaccine to community members at St. Agnes Catholic Church. According to Knott, Knipe, along with herself, had volunteered her time to help immunize people at the two-hour clinic. Their pharmacy’s dedication to preventing the spread of flu can be seen through these volunteer hours, as well as the hours Knott has devoted to giving the flu vaccine to Jefferson County Schools employees at immunization clinics she has held for them since the year after she opened Shepherdstown Pharmacy in 2011.
“We’ve probably been doing this since 2012,” Knott said, mentioning she had reached out to the school system when she realized no other pharmacy was offering this service to the school system already. “I reached out to them. It was just a great opportunity to get out in public and [help] people. Currently, I have six more schools to [hold clinics at] this year in Jefferson County.”
This longstanding relationship with the school system led to Knott being able to help them with their other immunization needs this year, as Shepherdstown Pharmacy was asked to hold COVID-19 vaccination clinics for Jefferson County Schools employees.
“It’s been a good relationship,” Knott said.
While those who have not received the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to do so as soon as possible, the need for the flu vaccine is only now being recommended by Knott.
“It’s equally important to get the flu vaccine every year. However, with people being more secluded last year and now congregating this year, I imagine [the flu] will be a lot worse,” Knott said, regarding the upcoming flu season. “Last year, everyone was masked up and indoors, so it was a very low transmission rate. This year it’s going to be interesting, I’m afraid.”
For this reason, Knott viewed the community flu immunization clinic at St. Agnes Catholic Church, which the church has held at the beginning of flu season for the past four years, in conjunction with Knott’s pharmacy, as being a valuable tool for the community. Parish Nurses Barbara Mueller and Gabrielle Davis agreed with Knott’s assessment.
“It’s convenient. Many people live very close to the church, and the university is down the street, so it offers an easy way for people to get the vaccine,” Mueller said, mentioning 33 people were vaccinated at last year’s clinic, which she at least expected to see matched this year, considering the large rush at the beginning of the clinic.
“This year, I feel we’ve gotten a lot of people who don’t normally get the flu vaccine get it, because they got the COVID-19 vaccine,” Knott said.
With most insurance providers, the flu shot is free, and can be administered at most local pharmacies, including Shepherdstown Pharmacy. Shepherdstown Pharmacy accepts walk-ins for the flu vaccine, although they still do require appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. To make an appointment, call 304-876-9966.