April is sure to be a busy month at Oswald’s! We’re working closely with the County, State, and Federal governments to secure the COVID-19 vaccine to administer at the pharmacy in the very near future. We currently have over 3,000 people on our email list waiting to sign up for an appointment. For those on the email list that have already received the vaccine, you can help friends and family sign up. Once we’re vaccinating on a regular basis at the pharmacy, we will be assisting DuPage County in partnership with Vaccination Buddies and SureRide a TukTuk Company, to vaccinate those who are homebound in our community.
Helping the DuPage County COVID Vaccination Effort
In March, DuPage county reached out to us because they were having trouble filling vaccine appointments for those 65+ at the County Fairgrounds. Utilizing our email list (of around 2,000 at the time) we were able to swiftly fill the remaining appointments. I received so many emails from grateful customers who received their first dose of the vaccine or those who helped family and friends sign up if they didn’t meet the criteria for Group 1b. It was so nice hearing from everybody! We’re excited to see the percentage of those vaccinated go up each and every day, regardless of where they receive it.
Being a small independent pharmacy gives us the flexibility to adapt to changes and needs in our community quickly. In early February 2020, we were already carrying medical grade masks, gloves, and disinfectants before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. We were one of the first laboratories in the area offering COVID-19 antibody and rapid antigen tests starting last July, which are still available today! While we’ve always offered in-home delivery to our prescription customers, last year we ramped up from an average of 10 deliveries a day to over 50, supplying our community with both over-the-counter medication and prescriptions – and perhaps a puzzle or two here and there.
Oswald’s Pharmacy & Vaccine History
This isn’t the first time Oswald’s has supported our community through troubling times. In my office, I have a copy of the cover of the March 19th, 1964 edition of the Naperville Sun. It pictures my Grandfather Robert (Bob) Anderson, 4th generation owner of Oswald’s, standing behind the Breitwieser family administering their first dose of the Polio vaccine. It was a two-dose vaccine that was administered in a clinic at the Naperville Community High School (now Naperville Central High School) just days after the print edition of that paper. The 2nd dose was given 2 months later.
While I wish I could tell more stories about my great-great-grandfather Louis Oswald’s experience through the 1918 flu pandemic, sadly there aren’t any stories the family remembers. However, the way he managed the pharmacy through the early 20th century must have paid off, as we’re still proudly taking care of our town a century later!
As things are changing every day when it comes to the vaccine, keep an eye on your inbox for any updates from us. If you’re not signed up for our COVID-19 mailing list, please visit oswaldspharmacy.com/covid-19-vaccine and do so. Even if you’re vaccinated, perhaps you can help a loved one sign up? If you have any questions, concerns, or needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at alex@oswaldspharmacy.com. Stay safe and have a wonderful Spring! ℞
