Nambe Drugs Honored During National Pharmacy Month

A paver to honor COVID-19 heroes Drs. Frances and Tom Lovett who own Nambe Drugs and staff. Courtesy/National APhA 

The Nambe Drugs Team. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen

By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Champions of Youth Ambitions

 

October is National Pharmacy Month and we hope the community will tell all of our local pharmacies what great work they do each and every day.

Community partners were waiting and hoping to pull a surprise out of their hat for one local pharmacy, but COVID had other plans. The goal was to shine a very bright light on Nambe Drugs.

It started in January of 2021 when the local senior centers found out they would hold the second drive through COVID vaccine clinic at a senior center in New Mexico. It was an amazing time and the event unfolded in one week.

The team worked seamlessly together, distributing more than 600 vaccinations then turned around one month later and did it again. Nambe Drugs allowed the centers to hold an event for senior citizens 75 and up in which they never had to exit their vehicle.

The work continued immunizing senior center staff as essential employees, which lightened the hearts of LARSO. The Nambe team went on to vaccinate 14,000 people in the community, with more in Santa Fe  at community and in-store events. They provided the service six days a week, in addition to their regular daily business and jobs.

It was then that local Pharmacist Dr. Catherine Fry suggested an idea. The idea hatched a plan to get a paver stone engraved in their name for the American Pharmacist Association Foundation COVID-19 Heroes Garden. Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA) stepped in to raise the funds as they began planning the 2021 Community Assets Award event.

“The Nambe Pharmacy staff are COVID-19 vaccine champions!” Dr. Fry said. “They worked with the NMDOH, from the beginning of the vaccine release to coordinate vaccinating the Los Alamos community, without their commitment and leadership our vaccination rate would not be what it is today.”

C’YA worked to raise $1,000, to purchase an engraved stone paver. The community was asked to donate a dollar if they received a vaccine from Nambe Pharmacy, and the envelopes began to arrive. One donation for $100, included a note from the donor for them, and for 99 people that would wish they had taken the time. While it was to be installed in September of 2021, a delay, due to the spread of the Delta variant, postponed the plans. The APHA Foundation overlooks the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and will work to honor COVID Heroes until that day arrives. 

“Pharmacy’s COVID-19 heroes and other members of our communities are collaborating to protect public health, many times at their own risk,” said Mitchel C. Rothholz, a pharmacist and executive director of the American Pharmacists Association Foundation. “The COVID-19 Heroes Campaign brings important attention to individuals and organizations for their contributions, dedication, and sacrifices during the pandemic. Dozens of organizations and individuals, including pharmacists and technicians, student pharmacists, nurses, and many more have been recognized by friends, family, and colleagues through the campaign.”

C’YA worked with Project Developer Jason Sapia of APhA to submit the requirements, which have now been extended to March of 2022. So, if you know a COVID Hero, there is plenty of time and information can be found at www.APhAFoundation.org.

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