COVID-19 vaccines are in great demand right now, and the supply isn't keeping up. NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo recently acknowledged the number of vaccines arriving from the federal government is limited, at a rate of approximately 300,000 doses per week.

While local medical agencies and public health are doing the best they can, a certain group of professionals are offering a helping hand in the vaccination effort.

We are referring to our local pharmacists.

Riverside Remedies in Callicoon recently became the first pharmacy in the county to administer the vaccine to people 65 years and older.

The reason for getting involved?

Riverside Remedies Owner Dr. Gene Burns wanted to say “thank you” to the community for its support of his business and also wanted to do his part in stemming the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of last week, Dr. Burns said there had already been 2,000 people that signed up through his website.

“This is a voluntary thing, not every pharmacy or pharmacist has to do, and I wanted to contribute as best I could and this is a big way to do it,” he said.

While he was the first, more pharmacies are doing the same. At Liberty's Town Board meeting on Tuesday, Supervisor Frank DeMayo mentioned that the Medicine Shoppe was also in the process of ordering vaccines. They asked the town board if they could use the Senior Center on Main Street as a site to administer the vaccine, which the town approved.

It's just another example of community involvement on display at our small businesses. While there are numerous chains and even online conglomerates that threaten the survival of our hometown businesses and local pharmacies, the relationships local business owners have with their customers and the fact they care for the community they serve, is irreplaceable.

Local pharmacies are the ones delivering medicine to our most at-risk residents, and oftentimes, if customers are having trouble reaching their doctor or need medical advice, pharmacists are able to point them in the right direction.

In these challenging times, our local pharmacists deserve to be commended. If we're going to be able to get enough people vaccinated to end this pandemic, you better believe they will be playing a big role in the effort.

And once this epidemic is under control, please remember who was there for you. Support your local pharmacy with your business to show them how much they are appreciated!

That would be the ultimate “Thank You” for a job well done and being there in our time of need.