Update: February 17.2023 9:00 A.M. Current Vaccination Information, masking mandates. Travel Needs and IRS Reports

Covid, Flu, RSV and Routine Vaccines Information 02/17/2023

The spike we had been seeing with Covid infections seems to have lessened now. We believe it still is a good idea to mask when in crowds and in public places. Mask mandates are still in place for many of us, healthcare providers in particular. Please be respectful of the masking requirements at the pharmacy. Information concerning mask mandates can be found at the Washington State Department of Health. Our website is updated for all our vaccinations and other useful information. We still are doing Covid vaccinations, as well as all other vaccines that we offer. Please consult our web page for appointments and necessary forms you may need. We are also still offering free rapid Covid and Flu tests by appointment. Free take home tests are also available, to get a free at home test you must request them on our website. Other common questions that we get are:

I need extra medications for a trip. Please allow ample time for use do this. At least 7 days is preferable.
I need a printout of my pharmacy spending for taxes.

Both of these are easily done by requesting them on our website or the links above. When you ask for either of these two items from our webpage we are immediately notified of your request.

**************

Covid,Flu Vaccine Information, also travel and IRS needs. 12/08/2022

Sadly, to say there continues to be high number of cases of Covid, Flu, Flu-like and RSV. Masking and keeping your distance from others are highly suggested, ESPECIALLY in community areas. For many cases of Covid and Flu we are able to test and treat at the pharmacy, there are a few exceptions, and we would work with your primary health care provider to facilitate treatment. The treatment for RSV is only symptomatic and you should talk to your primary healthcare provider. We are able to provide a free rapid Covid test and FLU test while you wait in your car. We do ask that you fill out a consent form request that is on our web site, or follow this link. We prefer to have an appointment made but we understand that Covid and the Flu can come on suddenly, so if there isn’t an appointment available call us and we will make every effort to get you tested quickly.

******************************************************

Lifewise Insurance Information 12/08/2022 9:15 a.m.

We were informed that Lifewise has changed their provider network to now include Lopez Island Pharmacy and Friday Harbor Drug. You will be able to continue to have prescriptions filled and billed to Lifewise now and in 2023. The number of phone calls to our elected officials and the Washington State Insurance Commissioner certainly got their attention.

Lifewise Insurance Information 11/29/2022 8:15 a.m.

If you have Lifewise Insurance in the past several days, you may have received a letter informing you that Lopez Island Pharmacy will not be in their pharmacy network in 2023. The action by Lifewise caught us completely off guard, the letter is directing patients to have their prescriptions filled on a mainland pharmacy OR Lifewise’s Mail Order Pharmacy. Prescriptions filled in a timely manner can be lifesaving and reduce other health care costs, such as hospitalizations. Most of you realize how important it is to have a pharmacy that can help you quickly. Just in the past several years during COVID we were one of the first to have vaccines locally and in those first months we vaccinated a large portion of Lopez. It is not practical for residents living in the San Juans to remove their ability to use their insurance locally. You can make your concerns heard by calling or emailing or both the below individuals, we will also be calling to remind you to contact your elected officials. If you wish to be removed from our emailing/phone list, please send a return email stating REMOVE Lifewise in the subject line. Thank you for your help in this important matter, Lopez Island Pharmacy

**************************************************************************

Mike Kreidler, Washington State Insurance Commissioner 800-562-6900 File a Complaint: File a complaint or check your complaint status | Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner Senator Liz Lovett 360-786-7678 Home – Sen. Liz Lovelett (wa.gov) Representative Debra Lekanoff 360-786-7800 Debra Lekanoff – Democratic Member of the WA State House of Representatives Representative Alex Ramel 360-786-7970 Alex Ramel – Democratic Member of the WA State House of Representatives

—————————————————————————————————

Covid Fall 2022 Boosters and Flu Vaccinations- Sept 26,2022 9:45 A.M.

We have opened appointments for additional Covid-19 Bivalent Boosters as well as ALL FLU vaccinations, over and under the age of 65. Please get an appointment first and then before your appointment go to the consent tab on this web site and fill out the consent form for your vaccination. Remember when doing the consent forms you MUST get a GREEN CHECK MARK at the end to finish the form.

Covid Fall 2022 Boosters and Flu Vaccinations- Sept 22,2022 3:15 P.M.

We now have openings for ALL Flu vaccinations over and under age 65. These appointments can be made on our web page, be sure to fill out the vaccination consent form AFTER getting your appointment. We will also be opening a limited number of Covid-19 Boosters in the days to come. As always we will NOT open up appointments until we have the vaccines in hand, but it should be shortly. Continue to check this web page daily.

Covid Fall 2022 Boosters and Flu Vaccinations- Sept 22,2022 9:30 A.M.

We were just notified that our Flu vaccines for those under the age of 65 have been shipped. As soon as we physically have them in hand we will open appointments for those vaccines. We will also be opening a limited number of Covid-19 Boosters in the days to come. As always we will NOT open up appointments until we have the vaccines in hand, but it should be shortly. Continue to check this web page daily. Currently you can still make appointments for Flu Vaccine for those Age 65 and older.

*************************************

Covid Fall 2022 Boosters and Flu Vaccinations- Sept 16,2022 9:00 A.M.

We are quickly working to open appointments today (09/16) for

Covid Bivalent Boosters,
Covid Bivalent Boosters and Flu, Age 65 & up ,
Flu only, Age 65 & up

We will open appointments sometime the morning of September 16th. Please bear with us as we work out any kinks in the scheduling. Obviously allowing you to do 2 vaccinations with one appointment has its challenges. We need to do the new Covid Boosters in multiples of 5, so on any given day there could be 5, 10, 15, etc. slots open. If we don’t fill up a day with either 5, 10, etc., we may contact you to try and move you to another time. Age 65 and up Flu are easier to work with and we will allow one whole day devoted to only Flu vaccinations. Sadly we are still waiting arrival of Flu vaccines for those under the age of 65. We apologize for the shipping delay. After you get your appointment times please come back to this website and fill out your consent form, being careful to pick the right one for your type of appointment. We have to do the paperwork for vaccinations by noon the day prior to your appointment so if we don ‘t have the completed consent forms ahead of time, you may lose your appointment.

**************

Covid Fall 2022 Boosters and Flu Vaccinations- Sept 13,2022 8:55 A.M.

We have now received the NEW Moderna Covid Bivalent Boosters and will open up appointments soon. The Covid appointments are for Moderna BOOSTERS ONLY (Age 18 and up) and you have had to receive any previous Covid vaccinations at least 2 month ago. If you are age 65 and over you can received the over 65 flu shot at the same time or you can elect to get the booster alone. If you have upcoming travel plans you should speak to us about scheduling these vaccinations. Covid Fall 2022 Boosters and Flu Vaccinations- Sept 13,2022 9:45 A.M. We have now received the NEW Covid Boosters and will open up appointments soon. These are for Moderna boosters ONLY (Age 18 and up) and you have had to receive any previous Covid vaccinations at least 2 month ago. If you are age 65 and over you can received the over 65 flu shot at the same time or you can elect to get the booster alone. If you have upcoming travel plans you should speak to us about scheduling these vaccinations.

**************

Covid Fall 2022 Boosters and Flu Vaccinations- Sept 11,2022

We anticipate the arrival of the NEW Covid Boosters this week( 09/11 – 09/16/2022) and we will open up appointments when we have them in our possession. These are for boosters ONLY (Age 18 and Up) and you must have had any previous Covid vaccinations at least 2 months ago. There are other criteria to qualify you for this boosters and we can discuss that with you. We also have Flu shots but at this time only for those age 65 and above. The Flu and Covid can be given together and we are working towards doing both at the same time for those interested, again those age 65 and above. We will also update our appointment system to reflect these changes. Please be patient and watch this site, FaceBook and Lopez Rocks as we roll these out. More information will be release as we get it.

*****************

Antiviral Covid Treatments (Paxlovid) by Pharmacy 07/15/2022

The pharmacy is able to prescribe the Covid-19 Antiviral treatment however there are certain requirements we MUST adhere to. There is NO cost for the Paxlovid For a Pharmacy to prescribe Paxlovid, we are required to have the following:

Positive CoVid test, a photo of a home test is acceptable or we can do a free test in your car.
Date of onset of symptoms
A copy of health records, less than 12 months old
A copy of laboratory blood work, less than 12 months old, that includes liver and kidney function tests
A complete list of ALL medication, prescription, OTC and all supplements.
If you are not a current patient of Lopez Island Pharmacy, we also need a New Patient Form filled out on our website, including insurance information.

Without this information, we are not allowed to write you a prescription for Paxlovid to treat CoVid. You would need to contact your doctor.

*****************************************

Antiviral Covid Treatments (Paxlovid) by Pharmacy 07/06/22

Yesterday(07/06/2022) the FDA authorized Pharmacists to prescribe the COVID antiviral treatment, Paxlovid. We are prepared to do so and have Paxlovid in stock. However there are certain requirements that we must follow in order to prescribe Paxlovid. The two main criteria for us to do this are.

Electronic or printed health records less than 12 months old, including the most recent reports of laboratory blood work for the state-licensed pharmacist to review for kidney or liver problems. State-licensed pharmacists could also receive this information through a consult with the patient’s health care provider.
A list of all medications they are taking, including over-the-counter medications so the state-licensed pharmacist can screen for drugs with potentially serious interactions with Paxlovid.

There are other criteria that may exclude you but we can determine that when we speak to you.

Moderna Boosters and Testing Information

Effective 06/13/2022 8:30 a.m.

We are not giving any Covid vaccinations for the remainder of June 2022. Decreased demand and staffing shortages are the main reason. We are still doing all of our regular vaccinations, i.e. shingles, pneumonia, tetanus, etc. Appointments are available for these on our website. If you need a Covid vaccination please contact the San Juan County Health Department. 360-378-4474 or visit their website.

We do have a limited supply of home testing kits, that if you have insurance are usually covered by insurance 100%, this includes Medicare patients. We must do paperwork before we can give you these free tests so please go to our website to complete your request, or follow this link. Free at home Covid Test. We also have a good supply of rapid Covid tests that we perform at the pharmacy. Go to our website under “Appts Tests and Vaccinations” to schedule a test, it takes 15 minutes. These tests are free of charge. If you schedule one of these tests at the pharmacy please wait in your car. We also are fortunate to have a ample supply of the antiviral Paxlovid for treating patients with Covid. A prescription is required to this medication and not everyone will qualify for using it. Paxlovid is a 5 day course of treatment and you need to test after the 5 days to determine if you are positive for Covid. Remember when you have Covid and even if you are treating Covid, please stay away from others as much as possible. Because we know there are many more cases of Covid on island and with tourists coming you have to assume that anyone close by you may be positive. If those around in close proximity are unmasked that makes matters even worse. Wearing a mask is the responsible thing to do when in public. Finally there are lots of cases of Covid on Lopez Island, those doing home tests are usually not reported so any numbers you may see concerning the number of cases is not 100% accurate. Sadly we went from the best in the state to the worst.

***************************

Moderna Boosters and Testing Information

Effective 05/09/22 9:30 a.m.

We have opened up appointments for May and early June. Please make appointments as soon as possible. Unfortunately we are seeing more and more Covid cases on Lopez, some of which are from events and gatherings. If you haven’t received any Covid vaccinations please do so, if you haven’t received anyboosters please do this soon.

Also we just received more Covid Testing kits that will be billed to your insurance including Medicare, there will be no cost for these kits we are billing to Medicare or Insurance. You can get 4 kits at a time and 8 total per month. You need to request them by going to our web page and checking the “Free Covid Tests” link, or you can click this link to go directly to the Covid Test Request. We have paperwork that must be done on these so just dropping in and asking for the free tests won’t be allowed. If you have trouble with the request form please call us.

Moderna Boosters and Testing Information

Effective 05/04/2022 2:45 p.m.

San Juan County Health is doing a large vaccination clinic on May 6, 2022. We will not open up more of our Moderna vaccinations until later in May so that we can judge the demand. All our other vaccinations are still available by making a appointment on our website.

Moderna Covid-19 Additional Boosters(4th Shot), and Covid-19 Testing Update

Effective 03/29/2022 1:40 P.M.

The FDA/CDC has approved an additional booster dose for Covid-19 vaccines. Our web site is accepting appointments now for this Booster(4th vaccination). https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=21711065 >>>>>>>>>

********************************************************

Moderna Covid-19 3rd Shot Upcoming Clinics, Flu Shots and Covid-19 Testing Update*

Effective: 12/30/2021 9:00 a.m. Exciting news on Covid tests – Thanks to a special program with Washington State we have FREE COVID antigen tests. These are a rapid(15 minutes) test that we will perform for you. We will collect the nasal(really simple) sample in your car and your results will be done in 15 minutes. You do not need to wait unless you want to. These quick antigen test are best for patient with symptoms, but having symptoms is not required. Due to the requirements by the State we can not do these tests for travel or event attendance purposes. The procedure for these tests are much like our vaccine system. 1. Make an appointment on this web page. 2. Fill out the consent questionnaire also on this web page, under consents. We have opened more COVID-19 vaccine appointments, boosters, 2nd and 1st shots. Please check this webpage under appointments. Anyone over the age of 18 and who had their 2nd Moderna or Pfizer vaccination at least 6 months ago are now eligible. Patients who had J&J should call a speak with the pharmacy. You can also make appointments during these time slots for 1st or 2nd Moderna vaccinations. You can also make an appointment for any of our other vaccines, including Flu, Pneumonia and Shingles vaccinations at our web site. San Juan County Health Department may also be offering Covid-19 Vaccinations, you should either call the County Health Department (360-378-4474) or go to their website . ————————————————————————————————————————————– Moderna Covid-19 3rd Shot Upcoming Clinics and Flu Shot Update* Effective: 12/21/2021 9:30 a.m. We have opened appointments for Covid-19 Moderna boosters and 1st and 2nd vaccinations for the first of January. We will open more appointments as needs dictate. Anyone over the age of 18 and who had their 2nd Moderna or Pfizer vaccination at least 6 months ago are now eligible. Patients who had J&J should call a speak with the pharmacy. You can also make appointments during these time slots for 1st or 2nd Moderna vaccinations. You can also make an appointment for any of our other vaccines, including Flu, Pneumonia and Shingles vaccinations at our web site. San Juan County Health Department may also be offering Covid-19 Vaccinations, you should either call the County Health Department (360-378-4474) or go to their website . ***************************************************** h*C

Moderna Boosters and Testing Information

Effective 05/09/22 9:30 a.m.

Moderna Boosters and Testing Information

Effective 05/04/2022 2:45 p.m.

Moderna Covid-19 Additional Boosters(4th Shot), and Covid-19 Testing Update

Effective 03/29/2022 1:40 P.M.

********************************************************

Moderna Covid-19 3rd Shot Upcoming Clinics, Flu Shots and Covid-19 Testing Update*

Moderna Boosters and Testing Information

Effective 05/09/22 9:30 a.m.

Moderna Boosters and Testing Information

Effective 05/04/2022 2:45 p.m.

Moderna Covid-19 Additional Boosters(4th Shot), and Covid-19 Testing Update

Effective 03/29/2022 1:40 P.M.

********************************************************

Moderna Covid-19 3rd Shot Upcoming Clinics, Flu Shots and Covid-19 Testing Update*

Moderna Boosters and Testing Information

Effective 05/09/22 9:30 a.m.

Moderna Boosters and Testing Information

Effective 05/04/2022 2:45 p.m.

Moderna Covid-19 Additional Boosters(4th Shot), and Covid-19 Testing Update

Effective 03/29/2022 1:40 P.M.

********************************************************

Moderna Covid-19 3rd Shot Upcoming Clinics, Flu Shots and Covid-19 Testing Update*

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Second Booster Dose of Two COVID-19 Vaccines for Older and Immunocompromised Individuals | FDA

************************************** Moderna Covid-19 3rd Shot Upcoming Clinics, Flu Shots and Covid-19 Testing Update* Effective: 12/30/2021 9:00 a.m. Exciting news on Covid tests – Thanks to a special program with Washington State we have FREE COVID antigen tests. These are a rapid(15 minutes) test that we will perform for you. We will collect the nasal(really simple) sample in your car and your results will be done in 15 minutes. You do not need to wait unless you want to. These quick antigen test are best for patient with symptoms, but having symptoms is not required. Due to the requirements by the State we can not do these tests for travel or event attendance purposes. The procedure for these tests are much like our vaccine system. 1. Make an appointment on this web page. 2. Fill out the consent questionnaire also on this web page, under consents. We have opened more COVID-19 vaccine appointments, boosters, 2nd and 1st shots. Please check this webpage under appointments. Anyone over the age of 18 and who had their 2nd Moderna or Pfizer vaccination at least 6 months ago are now eligible. Patients who had J&J should call a speak with the pharmacy. You can also make appointments during these time slots for 1st or 2nd Moderna vaccinations. You can also make an appointment for any of our other vaccines, including Flu, Pneumonia and Shingles vaccinations at our web site. San Juan County Health Department may also be offering Covid-19 Vaccinations, you should either call the County Health Department (360-378-4474) or go to their website . ————————————————————————————————————————————– Moderna Covid-19 3rd Shot Upcoming Clinics and Flu Shot Update* Effective: 12/21/2021 9:30 a.m. We have opened appointments for Covid-19 Moderna boosters and 1st and 2nd vaccinations for the first of January. We will open more appointments as needs dictate. Anyone over the age of 18 and who had their 2nd Moderna or Pfizer vaccination at least 6 months ago are now eligible. Patients who had J&J should call a speak with the pharmacy. You can also make appointments during these time slots for 1st or 2nd Moderna vaccinations. You can also make an appointment for any of our other vaccines, including Flu, Pneumonia and Shingles vaccinations at our web site. San Juan County Health Department may also be offering Covid-19 Vaccinations, you should either call the County Health Department (360-378-4474) or go to their website . *************************************************************************