Hayat Pharmacy finding success with walk-in clinics for COVID-19 vaccine

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – While challenges over location, supply and equitable access hamper people’s efforts to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Hayat Pharmacy is attempting to eliminate some hurdles through offering walk-in clinics throughout the city.

The pharmacy partnered with the Milwaukee Christian Center on the city’s south side to offer a walk-in clinic for those eligible to receive the vaccine. No appointment was necessary.

“Everybody’s out of the vaccine, they’re not taking appointments no matter where you go, so this is the first opening that has been available,” Marvin Hopland told CBS 58. Hopland was one of hundreds who got their first dose of the vaccine at the center.

“I registered some place else but they didn’t call me or anything so I don’t know what’s happening with that and that’s over a month already,” Raphaelt Skiba said. Skiba said the process at the walk-in clinic was quick and easy. For Skiba, getting the vaccine was an important and necessary milestone.

“I’m 84 years old and I need it so I can enjoy my grandchildren,” Skiba said.

Hayat Pharmacy is offering more walk-in clinics this week.

On Thursday, Feb. 25, a walk-in clinic will be held at its 813 W. Layton Ave. location from 9:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The same location will host another walk-in clinic on Saturday, Feb. 27 during the same hours.

On Friday, Feb. 26, Hayat is holding another off-site community walk-in clinic at the Maruf Neighborhood Youth Center at 2110 W. Hampton Ave. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hayat’s CEO, Hashim Zaibak, told CBS 58 the walk-in clinics are part of an effort to get the vaccine to the communities that need it the most.

“Many of the people who are 65 or older or new immigrants or people who have language barriers might really have a hard time getting online and registering,” Zaibak said. “In order to improve access […] we thought, let’s do it, let’s do walk-in, eliminate the appointments.”

Zaibak said this type of effort is made possible by Hayat being a small, independent pharmacy.

“Because we’re small we can move faster and we can work in the inner city and we can do things that the larger organizations can’t do,” Zaibak said.

Zaibak said he expects around 500 to 1,000 people a day visiting the clinics. He’s confident the pharmacy has enough doses for the expected number of patients, but said with an increased supply, he could offer even more days with walk-in clinics.

“We have the facility to offer it 7 days a week, we have the people to offer it 7 days a week, we just need the supply,” Zaibak said in an interview.

The clinics are only offered to those in the eligible groups to receive the vaccine as determined by the Department of Health Services. More information about the walk-in clinics can be found by CLICKING HERE.