GARNER, N.C. — If you haven't gotten your booster shot yet and you're eligible, state leaders don't want you to wait another day.
State leaders urge vaccinations, boosters and tests for COVID-19 as omicron becomes dominant variant
A pharmacy in Garner allows walk-in testing, vaccinating and boosting
Nasal swabs can be done in the parking lot and returned within minutes
On Monday, an urgent call to get vaccinated or boosted against COVID-19 came during a briefing from Gov. Roy Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Mandy Cohen said she expects a record number of cases in the coming weeks, in part because of the omicron variant.
Several cases have already been confirmed in the Triangle. Most recently, six were confirmed in Durham County by health officials at the county health department.
"I think we could see as many as 10,000 cases a day at the peak. It is that infectious. So we need to make sure they are acting now to make sure that folks are protected," Cohen said.
In addition to getting the booster, the governor and DHHS secretary encouraged testing for the virus at least two days prior to spending time with family and friends.
Wake County Public Health has added 2,000 additional appointments per day to meet demand. Other local testing sites, like pharmacies, have walk-up options.
You don't need an appointment for a test at the Garner Family Pharmacy, located on U.S. 70.
The only thing you need to do is walk up to the counter and ask if you can have a test.
Dr. Chet Kanjia, the pharmacist and owner, said he prefers to keep it simple.
“They can walk in here, or we can drop it off curbside,” Kanjia said.“They can walk in here, or we can drop it off curbside,” Kanjia said.
Testing comes at no cost to the customer.
“We can do 15, 20 or 25 a day,” Kanjia said.
The come one, come all mentality is why Amanda Johnson walked through the door. As a mother of four she isn’t taking chances. Still, she’s a little nervous because hasn’t performed a nasal swab on herself.
”Not on myself, no. I’ve had it done to me,” Johnson said.
The process is as easy as reciting your ABCs.
“I’m going to grab a mirror here so I see,” Johnson said.
Johnson said a friend recently had exposure to the virus. She was comfortable with sharing the experience.
“OK, this really doesn’t feel that bad,” she said after she swabbed one nostril.
What doesn’t feel good is staying home from work until her test results are negative. Results will come in the next 24 to 36 hours for this PCR test.
From picking up the kit at the counter to completing the test in her car to returning, the procedure took less than five minutes.
Kanjia will not schedule testing through the afternoon of Christmas Eve.
You can also walk in for a booster or if you are wanting your first shot of the vaccine.