By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Seip Drug in Henning administered approximately 100 COVID-19 vaccines from Johnson and Johnson on Friday. The COVID-19 shot clinic was sponsored by Seip Drug and provided area residents an opportunity to get the one shot vaccination in a quick and effective manner. 

While Seip Drug in Henning has been administering the Pfizer vaccine for about three weeks, Henning pharmacist Ben Geyer said store owner Nathan Seip ordered 800 doses of the one shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine as a way to get even more people vaccinated across the region. 

Geyer said the local pharmacy filled the appointments for the COVID-19 shot clinic off of its waiting list, and put calls out to area residents who may also be interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccination.

“We’ve had a wait list going, because of the different phases, so we filled from the wait list first,” he said. 

The remaining shots of the Johnson and Johnson order placed by Seip Drug were distributed at COVID-19 shot clinics in Bertha, Frazee, New York Mills and Battle Lake. 

Following the COVID-19 shot clinic, Seip Drug in Henning has vaccinated 160 people, which doesn’t include individuals who may have gotten a COVID-19 vaccination at another pharmacy, public health or hospital. 

Moving forward, Geyer said anyone who would like to get a COVID-19 vaccine should contact Seip Drug to be put on a waiting list, either online or by contacting the store. He said the pharmacy finds out early each week what type, and how many, vaccines it will receive and will fill as many appointments as possible depending upon the amount of shots it receives.

“Every week, earlier in the week, we will find out what we will get that week,” said Geyer. “Then we schedule appointments based on what we get.”

As far as what COVID-19 vaccine is the best, Geyer said people shouldn’t necessarily hold out for one brand over another, but take what is available to them when they are able. 

“The best vaccine is the vaccine is the vaccine available to you,” he said. 

Anyone who is age 16 and over and would like to get a COVID-19 vaccination should contact Seip Drug in Henning at 583-2773.