Local pharmacies adjusting to current lack of J&J vaccine

With the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on pause right now, local pharmacies in the Triangle are working hard to keep vaccinating people who choose either Moderna or Pfizer.

Amrish Patel, owner and Pharmacist at We Care Pharmacy in Apex, says J&J's unavailability has been a challenge.

“Basically, it has put a lot more work on our part," Patel explained. "We had all the schedules done. We had about 100 doses coming just a couple of days before the news came out."

Patel says he is concerned that those people who only want the J&J vaccine will not get a vaccine at all.

"That is a possibility because there are still people out there who are still looking for J&J," Patel said.

We Care Pharmacy does offer the Moderna vaccine, as well.

At the Hayes Barton Pharmacy in Raleigh, owner Brent Talley says that he has remained busy with vaccinations in the pharmacy and at off-site locations.

“It hasn’t affected it too much. We were able to get her hands on some of the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines that we’re going to be holding other clinics with," Talley said. "We are moving forward with the other vaccines.”

Talley says that being able to help his community get vaccinated is a good thing, even if J&J is out of the loop.

"We are just grateful to be giving it and glad that we have some other options," he said. "And not everything is on hold. So it’s nice to be able to just turn and keep going with something different.“