Drug store that served NC mountain town during 1918 pandemic at it again

TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. — An Alexander County pharmacy that first opened more than 100 years ago has joined the race to vaccinate.

People’s Drug Store in Taylorsville started serving the community during the last pandemic in 1918.

Reporter Dave Faherty visited the business on Wednesday as dozens of its customers rolled up their sleeves to get a shot.

It took only about 15-20 minutes for people at the drug store to get the Moderna vaccine.

“It’s a relief because I didn’t want to go far away,” said customer Lena Lail.

“I’m glad for somebody to be here,” said another customer, Ronald Taylor.

Owner Phil Icard started working on getting a vaccine supply months ago. He had heard CVS and Walgreens would be giving shots and thought, why not his 100-year-old business in Alexander County?

Icard said it took him dozens of hours just to fill out all of the paperwork but in the end, it was worth it.

“We are excited,” he told Channel 9. “We got our first shipment yesterday and you’d thought it was a Christmas present. We’ve worked for months.”

A lot of the people Channel 9 spoke with on Wednesday said they were glad they got their shots at the drug store. Some said they’re just more comfortable coming to a place where they know everyone.

“I called down here at Phil’s -- I’ve been coming here for 20, 30 years, maybe more than that,” said Pearly Kerley. “So yes, I’m good.”

The drug store plans to hold larger clinics in the future in hopes of vaccinating as many people as possible in Alexander County.

“I know we’re not Bojangles stadium but, by golly, we can do a thousand with the staff that we’ve got,” said Icard.

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Cox Media Group