Real-life superheroes are hard to come by, especially in a world as divided as today. Yet a local pharmacist, donning a superman suit, has become exactly that.
He isn’t stopping the Joker or dueling against Thanos, however. Instead, this North Penn High School (NPHS) alum is doing work even the most malicious villains would never challenge — distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Hundreds of elderly residents in Skippack recently received the first of their long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine doses, and it was thanks to NPHS Class of 2003 grad Mayank Amin’s heroic efforts. Amin had applied to be a vaccine distributor, and within a couple of short days, his Skippack Pharmacy received the greenlight.
Distributing the vaccine has been a real challenge in Pennsylvania. There have been shortages and delays throughout the whole state, and overall, the rollout has not been as successful as expected. But after protocol training and getting the proper equipment to store the vaccine, Amin was ready to do his part. As the owner of the Skippack Pharmacy, he wants to provide for his community.
Planning large events is nothing new for Amin, as he also has a wedding planning business on the side. But this event was far from the events he has planned in the past.
“We gave out our first doses on Sunday, Feb. 7, but I had only received confirmation the Wednesday prior,” Amin said. “The following day, the county delivered our vaccines to the pharmacy. I was told I could get it by a later date again, but I knew the vaccines needed to be given out as soon as possible. So, the same day, I drove an hour away to the pharmacy and picked it up.”
With little time to plan and plenty of doses to give, Amin had to quickly organize the vaccine distribution. In a short 36 hours of preparation, Amin rallied approximately 100 volunteers, and on the day of his clinic, they combined to administer roughly 1,000 doses.
The timing was not the only problem: Amin also had to prepare for the snowstorm. But, like any true superhero, he couldn’t be stopped that easily.
“Even though I had just received the vaccines, it was something that needed to get done,” Amin said. “Sure, I could have waited for the storm to pass and vaccinate throughout the week, but I would not be able to do what I did. All the volunteers… everyone who helped would be less available. People are working and busy. Getting the initial 1,000 doses out as fast as I did was only possible on that day.”
Those volunteers ranged from people who work in his pharmacy to people who worked at the local fire department. It was a group effort, with many willing to help. A true sense of community was built throughout the process, and Amin recalls his vaccinated patients coming back hours later to help with shoveling out the snow.
“I cannot take all the credit for what happened,” Amin said. “Each person contributed to something great. We are all part of the reason it happened. The process is a team effort, and although I get the recognition, I know this was not possible alone. It’s a community running the clinic helping out our most vulnerable community members, not just me.”
A wide variety of people received doses, including young people with underlying conditions to the oldest married couple in Pennsylvania, who have been married for 80 years.
On Feb. 14, another clinic was held, which brought the total number of doses provided to 2,500. That number is among the highest in the county, only second to the Montgomery County Health Department.
Amin’s waiting list currently stands at approximately 27,000 Montgomery County residents.
“It’s very fulfilling to have the opportunity to do this; it brings hope for a lot of people,” Amin said. “I am just an organizer of what has been going on. This is something that we need as a community, I just am named in the papers.”
Amin is proud to know that recipients of the vaccine can now live at their homes a little more comfortably, knowing that their local pharmacy was able to provide them with the key to moving forward toward normalcy.
“In the lines, everyone was elated. You can’t see the smiles, but you could tell by their eyes and attitude this was a big day for them,” Amin said. “Tears of happiness ran down their faces, knowing that they will soon be able to see their family for the first time in such a long time.”
He said he is grateful to be a part of one of the most important processes for life today, and he added that he has no intentions to stop providing for his community, either.
“The work is not done yet, and it may not be done for a while,” Amin said. “But, each day we get closer and closer to the day where it all ends.”
See also:
Skippack Pharmacy Launches GoFundMe To Purchase Bulk Supplies For Healthcare Workers
Lansdale First Responders Receive PPE Donation From Skippack Pharmacy
Skippack Pharmacy Launches Free At-Home Flu Shot Program For Montco Seniors
Pennsylvania Vaccine Supply Short 5.6 Million Doses For First Phase
Pennsylvania Officials Discourage ‘Vaccine Tourism’ As Distribution Lags
