WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. — While the initial rollout of the new COVID-19 vaccine has faced sporadic supply issues, high demand and insurance challenges nationwide, some pharmacies in Wisconsin are actively distributing the new vaccine, including Fitzgerald Pharmacy in Whitefish Bay.

What You Need To Know

  • Fitzgerald Pharmacy recevied more than 1,100 doses earlier this week and had no shortage of appointments for them

  • Local mom-and-pop shops like Fitzgerald Pharmacy now shoulder the cost of the vaccines themselves, plus the administration fee too
  • Dr. Hashim Zaibak, the pharmacy's owner, spent $130,000 on COVID-19 vaccinations alone this year, not including the administration fee

  • Zaibak said COVID-19 vaccinations are six times more expensive this year than flu shots and more challenging to manage in terms of demand

The pharmacy’s owner, Dr. Hashim Zaibak, said it’s been a little challenging to build up their supply, but they received more than 1,100 doses earlier this week and have had no shortage of appointments for them.

“Persistence,” said Zaibak. “I think that’s the word. We have been really persistent in the last few weeks.”

Zaibak said they did a few unconventional things to ensure a steady supply.

“We didn’t just call the wholesalers,” Zaibak said. “We called the wholesalers and the manufactures and the shipment we got today was directly from the manufacturer.”

In the coming days, they plan to open COVID-19 vaccinations to everyone, but for now, their focus is on those at high risk.

“We are really trying to focus on the 65 [and older], which is the group of people who have the highest risk of hospitalization from COVID,” said Zaibak.

One such individual is Mary Sullivan, who is not only getting her COVID-19 vaccination but also her flu shot.

“Four people I know out east have gotten it, so that makes me worried,” said Sullivan. “I don’t want to have it. I had it once, and that was enough.”

For Sullivan, it’s a pretty simple philosophy: staying safe for the sake of others.

“I got to be safe [for] other people,” she said.

Thankfully, Fitzgerald Pharmacy has many doses.

Unlike when the vaccines were free and federally funded, local mom-and-pop shops like Fitzgerald Pharmacy now pay for the vaccines themselves, plus the administration fee as well.

Zaibak said COVID-19 vaccinations are six times more expensive this year than flu shots and more challenging to manage in terms of demand.

“We really have to play the balance to order enough to take care of the community, but we can’t order too much because it’s pretty expensive,” Zaibak said. “It’s about $130 per shot.”

That means Zaibak spent $130,000 on COVID-19 vaccinations alone this year, not including the administration fee.

“So, we just want to make sure we don’t over-order and get stuck with a lot of it that doesn’t get used,” he said.

But it’s all worth it, according to Zaibak, to keep the community safe, especially the most vulnerable.

“It’s the number one question when people call us, ‘do you have the COVID vaccine?’ So, there is definitely a need,” he said.

Across the state, many are seeking their first dose, and pharmacies like Fitzgerald’s are again ramping up to meet the demand of the latest variant.

Related Stories