Hometown Heroes: NYC pharmacists were on the front lines of biggest mass-vaccination effort in U.S. history
New York’s hometown heroes will be fêted in NYC’s Canyon of Heroes on July 7, 2021. The New York Daily News honors its local heroes — essential workers all.
See our special NYC Hometown Heroes section here.
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When the COVID pandemic hit hard last year, New York City pharmacists had to quickly reformulate the way they worked.
Vulnerable customers suddenly were too afraid to leave their homes for lifesaving medications. Others asked for 90-day stockpiles of some of the most expensive and difficult drugs to source.
After sorting out an onslaught of delivery, product shortage and cash flow issues, city pharmacists then found themselves on the front lines of the biggest mass-vaccination effort in U.S. history.
Tiffany Braham-Caldropoli, supervising pharmacist at Boca Pharmacy on E. Tremont Ave. in the Bronx, said customers turned to her with countless questions.
“A lot of people have come to us with their concerns. Maybe they don’t have a primary care doctor, but we’re here and accessible to the community,” she said.
“I’m able to tell them about my experience getting my vaccine early on. Hopefully, I’m someone they trust and can relate to. They can look at me and say, ‘She got it, and she’s OK.” It puts them in a comfort zone to get the shot with us,” she said.
On her Crotona block, she’s definitely made a difference.
“We went around door-to-door talking to people. At first, some were skeptical,” she said. “I ended up meeting a barber on dialysis. We answered all of his questions, and he ended up getting his shots.”
She said the pandemic has been particularly challenging for her as a mom to 6-year-old twins, but she felt a “duty” to serve her customers.
“It definitely was scary at times, but patients needed their medications,” she said.
“In the beginning, I wore masks at home and kept my distance from the twins. They wanted hugs from mommy, but I had to say no sometimes. They had no clue why, so that was really hard,” she said. “But I had to make sure our patients were taking care of themselves and staying healthy.”
Joel Weiner, the supervising pharmacist at New Lots Pharmacy in Brooklyn, said he proactively talks to all his customers about the COVID vaccine.
“We have lots of people on the fence who just need someone they know with a degree on the wall to encourage them to go and maybe make their appointment for them,” he said.
“I probably get annoying at points, but we lost six people to COVID who were good neighbors and customers,” he said.
He said one customer who’s a retired police officer pushed back, but he didn’t give up.
“He was hesitant. I stressed to him, ‘You’re educated. You work for the government. They pay your pension. They’re not out to harm everybody. This is about the public good. Our vaccines are what make this country so great.’ The following week, he made his appointment,” Weiner said.
New York’s hometown heroes will be fêted on NYC’s Canyon of Heroes, celebrated by a grateful city after enduring a brutal pandemic’s toll. After 15 months of tragedy and lockdown, New York is on its way back. The war against coronavirus wasn’t won without these NY heroes — essential workers all. See our special NYC Hometown Heroes section here.
