Sigler Pharmacy and Theatre Lawrence partner to host vaccine clinics — and entertainment is included

photo by: Lauren Fox

Sigler Pharmacy has teamed up with Theatre Lawrence to host vaccine clinics at the theater, located at 4660 Bauer Farm Drive.

A local theater and a pharmacy have teamed up to host one of Douglas County’s COVID-19 vaccination sites, and when someone gets a shot at the theater, it comes with a show.

Sigler Pharmacy has been using Theatre Lawrence as its vaccine clinic site since late February. During clinics, the will-call window and bar area become check-in spots, the lobby is the vaccination site and the stage is the observation area. And while waiting the required 15 minutes after receiving a vaccine, visitors can watch short clips from past Theatre Lawrence productions on a screen in the theater.

photo by: Lauren Fox

The observation room at Theatre Lawrence vaccine clinics comes with on-screen entertainment from previous Theatre Lawrence performances.

Lance Watson, who was sitting on the stage after receiving his vaccine on Tuesday, said the distribution process was “super easy” and “real streamlined.” As for the videos, he said he enjoyed them.

“Yeah, absolutely, a little extra entertainment while we’re waiting,” he said.

Jeff Sigler, owner of Sigler Pharmacy, said that by the end of this week the pharmacy will have given out about 2,100 COVID-19 vaccine doses at Theatre Lawrence. The pharmacy is part of a federal pharmacy program, so he receives his vaccines from a vendor through that program. Sigler has also received and administered about 1,000 doses through Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, he said. Sigler Pharmacy helped vaccinate some of the senior living facilities and affiliates of Cottonwood Incorporated.

Sigler Pharmacy is following the state phases for vaccine distribution. Currently, Kansas is vaccinating those who qualify in Phases 1 through 4. Those wanting to receive a vaccine through Sigler Pharmacy should register on its waiting list online at siglerpharmacy.com/covid19vaccine. Registering for the health department’s COVID-19 vaccine interest form will not put residents on the pharmacy’s list. It must be filled out separately.

Sigler said his pharmacy had been vaccinating about 500 people a week. Up until last week, the pharmacy was mainly focused on vaccinating those 65 and older.

“Even though Phase 2 is bigger, we wanted to concentrate on 65 and over because a lot of those folks were having trouble getting into clinics,” he said.

photo by: Lauren Fox

Jeff Sigler, owner of Sigler Pharmacy, is pictured inside Theatre Lawrence during a Sigler Pharmacy vaccine distribution clinic on March 23.

Partnering with Theatre Lawrence has given Sigler Pharmacy sufficient space to run its clinics. Sigler himself is a fan of the theater, and he said it’s also a good opportunity to get people back into the building.

“COVID’s really hit the arts industry hard, and the theater’s part of that. So this was a great opportunity for more people to come in and see the theater and know that it’s here, but also to just utilize the space when it hadn’t been utilized for a long time,” he said.

Last weekend, Theatre Lawrence returned to the stage for its second live performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began and the first of this year. The theater is currently showing “Almost, Maine,” and there will be in-person performances and online, streamed performances this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mary Doveton, executive director of Theatre Lawrence, said she thought it was great that the theater could participate in the vaccine clinic. Theatre Lawrence provides about 15 volunteers for each clinic.

photo by: Lauren Fox

Dr. Carla Phipps administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Brian Gallagher on March 23 at Theatre Lawrence.

On Tuesday, Lawrence High School junior Kate O’Keefe was volunteering in the lobby area. It was her first time volunteering at the vaccine clinic, and she said she thought it would be fun. She’s participated in Theatre Lawrence productions in the past and enjoyed being back inside the building.

Another volunteer, Beth Dearinger, said she normally volunteers at Theatre Lawrence for shows, and that she’s been volunteering at the vaccine clinics at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

“And so when I found out they were doing some here, I decided to volunteer here too, because I’m really enjoying volunteering and helping people get their shots,” Dearinger said. “I’m retired and I just love it.”

Dearinger said she has volunteered six times at the fairgrounds and about eight times at Theatre Lawrence.

Doveton said it’s been no issue getting volunteers for the clinics.

“You know, I think everybody at this point is really eager to help and get the community through this — get everybody vaccinated,” she said.

As the vaccinated individuals waited on stage in the observation area on Wednesday, clips from musicals such as “Peter Pan” and “Catch Me If You Can” played on screen. After their waiting time was up, visitors exited through the back of the stage, but not before passing a table with stickers.

“I took my shot,” the stickers read, a reference to the musical “Hamilton.” The musical’s logo, a gold star, was behind the letters. But instead of the star being topped with Alexander Hamilton’s silhouette, it was topped with a syringe.

photo by: Lauren Fox

Sigler Pharmacy and Theatre Lawrence give out “I took my shot” stickers, in the style of the musical “Hamilton,” at their vaccine clinics.

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