Despite the crippling red tape, Eric’s RX Shoppe in Horsham was among the first independent pharmacies in Pennsylvania to start providing the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers, writes Marie McCullough for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Providing the shots came with a slew of challenges. In addition to the red tape, there were logistical challenges and vagaries of reimbursement.

Still, none of this discouraged co-owners Eric Abramowitz and Marc Ost from doing the right thing to support the community.

The operation was running smoothly until a week in when the previous administration added more people to the high priority group. The pharmacy was suddenly swamped with thousands of calls and emails.

“We got a lot of calls saying: ‘I’ve been a loyal customer. You owe me a vaccine,’” Abramowitz said. “But there’s not enough vaccine, not enough vaccinators, and not enough time.”

Abramowitz is working seven days a week and he and Ost have had to hire more people to help with the huge demand.

But in the end, patients’ “tears of happiness” and grateful emails make it all worthwhile, said Abramowitz.

Read more about Eric’s RX Shoppe at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.