Pharmacy chain Rowlands has opened its first Covid-19 vaccination site at one of its branches in North Wales.
Rowlands Prestatyn, which administered its first vaccine on Monday, March 22, was selected by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to join the Coronavirus vaccination programme due to its convenient location and strong local reputation.
To mark the first day of vaccination, Dr James Davies, local MP for the Vale of Clwyd, visited the Prestatyn branch and spoke with the pharmacy team about the steps taken to get the vaccination site up and running.
Congratulating the Rowlands Prestatyn team, he said: “The operation and set-up at the Rowlands Pharmacy here on Prestatyn High Street is commendable. This vaccination site will help protect and save the lives of people in our community."
He further thanked the pharmacy team for their consistency towards serving the community during the pandemic.
Rowlands Pharmacy managing director, Mark Bather, commented: “We are delighted that our branch in Prestatyn has been selected as a Covid-19 vaccine site and working along with local health boards, we hope this marks the start of many more branches to come.
“We have pharmacies across England, Wales and Scotland ready, willing and able to deliver vaccinations. Our dedicated pharmacy teams look forward to joining the collective fight to beat Coronavirus as soon as they possibly can.”
Pharmacy manager at Rowlands Prestatyn, Kim Noble, added: “We’re overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from the Prestatyn community throughout the pandemic and would like to thank everyone who has helped us with setting up the vaccine site and who has volunteered to assist us with the vaccination programme.”
Rowlands and Numark – on behalf of their 4,600 strong membership – are now rallying for more UK community pharmacies to be involved in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
Jeremy Meader, managing Director for Numark, concluded: “Community pharmacies are a convenient and trusted first port of call for vaccinations. Collectively, they can help administer thousands of vaccines at a local level. A vital third pillar of the NHS, community pharmacy is ideally placed to help alleviate the pressures on local hospitals, vaccination sites and GPs currently delivering the vaccine.
"The scale and speed of the UK mass vaccination programme so far is commendable, but we welcome the opportunity for more community pharmacies to play their role in this collective fight against Coronavirus, as soon as possible.”
