Coronavirus: Governor, first lady receive first dose of vaccine

Dr. Kevin Sharrett of Kettering Health Network administered the Pfizer vaccine, sharing some of the side effects the DeWines might experience.

After the first shot, people can have redness and soreness at the injection site, a fever, body aches and other mild, flu-like symptoms. When patients receive the second shot they tend to have similar side effects, but a little stronger. Side effects should last about 18 to 24 hours after the vaccine was administered.

Patients getting the Pfizer vaccine have about 60-70% immunity 12 days after the first vaccine, Sharrett said. A week after receiving the second dose, patients hit the peak immunity of 95%. The vaccine also is effected against new variants of the virus, he said.

The governor and first lady will follow up with their second dose in about 21 days. Sharrett also gave the DeWines suckers following their vaccinations.

Kettering Health Network is hosting its third vaccination clinic Tuesday at the Jamestown office, Sharrett said.

“Our experience has been very good,” he said, noting that patients have been open and receptive to getting the vaccine.

However, some people have expressed concern over how quickly the vaccine was developed and possible long-term side effects.

“At the end of the day you have to decide am I safer with the vaccine or am I safer with the virus,” Sharrett said. “… Sooner or later you’re going to catch this virus. Because it’s not going away.”

The health network also is having Saturday vaccine clinics, which have been filling up quickly. Sharrett said that registration for one clinic that opened at noon Monday was full by 12:20 p.m.

Kettering Health Network has received a lot of support from the community, he said. Local churches brought in food for workers, the fire department is helping direct traffic and the township sent snow plows to make sure the roads were cleared so people could get to the clinic safely.