LAKEWOOD, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Members of a pharmacy in Oconto County are being honored for their efforts in distributing COVID-19 vaccines. The Nicolet Pharmacy in Lakewood have helped administer nearly 3,000 shots so far. Netting them an award from the Lakewood Area Chamber of Commerce.
“On behalf of the Lakewood Area Chamber of Commerce, we wanted to recognize Nicolet Pharmacy for all of their efforts,” said Jean Promer, Lakewood Area Chamber of Commerce Treasurer.
Promer says the award is the first of its kind.
“I think they certainly went out of their way to get everybody in this area vaccinated,” she said.
“It means so much to be appreciated. Our whole team put in so much effort. It took the entire staff here to support being able to do what we did,” said Amy Donaldson, Nicolet Pharmacy Co-Owner and Business Manager.
Since vaccines were authorized earlier this year, business manager Amy Donaldson and pharmacist Gary Donaldson spent months administering the two-dose Pfizer vaccine in the office, and setting up mobile clinics at places like The Town of Riverview Town Hall.
“We did somewhere close to 3,000. I think the last count was over 2,800, maybe even a little bit more. But for our communities which are 500-600, when you look at the individual communities, that’s a huge amount of people,” said Donaldson.
According to state vaccination statistics, northern Oconto County is getting results.
“Over 70 percent, at least two of the townships in are area, which is huge,” said Donaldson.
Donaldson says Nicolet will continue to offer the vaccine as long as there is a need.
“Regardless of opinion, everybody wanted life to get back to normal. Obviously the vaccine is keeping people out of the hospital, keeping people from dying. That’s huge. We’ve lost community members just like every other community, and we’ll do what we can,” she said.
She says the effort is Making a Difference.
“It’s been an honor. It’s been such an honor to be able to take care of that many people that, to give back. It was a mission, and I get choked up about that,” said Donaldson.
