COVID-19 clinic opens at PX

By Chad AsheJune 22, 2021

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. – General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital leaders have partnered with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service to offer a new, convenient location to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

Located inside the Post Exchange, the clinic

COVID-19 clinic opens at PX
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Aaron Pitney, commander of General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital speaks with Ms. Beth Pritchard, Fort Leonard Wood Army and Air Force Exchange Service General Manager June 22 at the opening of the COVID-19 vaccination clinic in the Post Exchange. (Photo Credit: Chad Ashe) VIEW ORIGINAL
COVID-19 clinic opens at PX
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Leadership from General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital and from AAFES Fort Leonard Wood pose for a group photo in front of the new COVID-19 vaccination clinic June 22. (Photo Credit: Chad Ashe ) VIEW ORIGINAL
COVID-19 clinic opens at PX
Col. Aaron Pitney, commander of General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital speaks with Ms. Beth Pritchard, Fort Leonard Wood Army and Air Force Exchange Service General Manager June 22 at the opening of the COVID-19 vaccination clinic in the Post Exchange. (Photo Credit: Chad Ashe) VIEW ORIGINAL

is adjacent to the satellite pharmacy and next to the barber shop and is open 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“The reason behind having a location here is more accessibility,” said Capt. Kyung Zimmerman, chief of Clinical Operations and project officer for the new clinic. “So, if you’re shopping at the PX, getting a haircut or picking up your pharmacy refill, it’s right there. You don’t have to go to the hospital just to get the shot.”

Beth Pritchard, Exchange general manager here assisted the GLWACH staff in securing and advertising the new location.

“The process was really quite simple,” Pritchard said. “GLWACH contacted the garrison office with a request for space in an AAFES facility. The garrison office contacted us and we very quickly committed to making this happen. The storefront offered for the vaccination clinic was vacant, so it was really a simple decision to repurpose it in support of a joint public health effort.”

Zimmerman said she is very appreciative for AAFES’ support, and indicated GLWACH is planning to keep the clinic open until the end of August, depending on the demand and usage of the location.

All service members, Tricare beneficiaries, and current Department of Defense employees and contractors may receive the vaccine at the PX.

“It’s just fantastic,” Pritchard said. “The AAFES mission is all about service to our military community, and we have continued to serve throughout the pandemic. It really is a privilege to now partner with GLWACH by providing a safe, convenient location for our community to be vaccinated. Every shot makes us all safer and stronger together.”