November 2021 by Smith And Company -.
Turned away for a COVID-19 shot. First and foremost, the CVS on the corner of Merle Hay Road and Hickman has signs posted throughout their stores that walk-ins are welcome for COVID-19 shots, including a prominently displayed sign at their store entrance. It's the first thing you see when you walk through their door. Last week I was turned away for a COVID-19 shot because ... I did not have an appointment. The (red) state of Iowa has a poor record of vaccinations. One would think any medical professional would be thrilled to provide an injection. But no, that was not the case. When I asked the pharmacists for a shot, her first question was, "Do you have an appointment?" I told her I do not. I was then told I needed an appointment, instructing me to go to their website and schedule one. I immediately pointed to a sign I was STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO that stated "walk-ins welcome." She then proceeded to give me a laundry list of reasons why it was inconvenient for her and her crew of around five pharmacists. And so I asked if there were any appointments available. Her response was, "I have no idea." She then reiterated her prior instructions of make an appointment online through the CVS website. (i.e. Leave. Your being here is inappropriate) I would like to point out: - I was the ONLY customer in the pharmacy department. - I was one among maybe three customers in the entire store. Needless to say, I left CVS without a lifesaving COVID shot. In truth, the could not have cared less. Fortunately, I am fully vaccinated and was in need of the third booster. However, I am in a high-risk category because I have congestive heart failure, and I was six weeks overdue for the booster (my oversight), placing me in the "waining protection" category. Thank you, Walmart! I drove over to the Windsor Heights Walmart Pharmacy after leaving CVS and was immediately accommodated. No one cared if I had an appointment. No one required me to jump through hoops in order to get a shot. AND ... they had fewer people working in their pharmacy than CVS. I have since disposed of my CVS "ExtraCARE" card and transferred my drug prescriptions elsewhere.
