Pittsburgh pharmacy helping the elderly get vaccinated for COVID-19

PITTSBURGH — An area pharmacy is making vaccinating the elderly its mission.

“Hopefully the end to what’s been plaguing 2020,” said Alex Lavella, owner of Hilltop Pharmacy.

Lavella teamed up with Allentown Business Association to get over 1,000 vaccinations done today.

They rented buses to take seniors who live here in the Caligiuri high-rise in Allentown to Peters Township to get the COVID-19 vaccination.

“We’re scheduling 25-40 people every 15 minutes, we have over 25 volunteers here working from medical professionals to med students to pharmacy students, some to students. It’s been a really great turnout,” Lavella said.

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With the high demand for the vaccine, Lavella said she doesn’t want to turn away seniors who are desperate to get the shot.

That’s when she turned to Allentown leaders to help get the vaccination clinic up and running in just a few days.

She says she got the shots, found a recreation center in Peters Township that could accommodate a large group, and began planning with officials there.

“All of them are positive, positive in the fact that they do have a weep in their eyes. They are very, very thankful to have this opportunity,” said Peters Township Fire Chief Michael McLaughlin.

Channel 11 caught up with a few of the people who got the first of two doses of the Moderna vaccine.

They said they feel like they are getting a new lease on life.

“I’m so excited about this. This is a game changer in life, everyday life. In the house the last ten months, so this is a game changer,” said Denise Chappel.