Shots began going into arms on Tuesday morning. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, the only two vaccines available for COVID-19 right now in the United States, require two doses, about 20 days apart.
Clark County Combined Health District Commissioner Charles Patterson said the seven providers in the county, which include the health district, Mercy Health, Rocking Community Health Center, the New Carlisle Community Health Center and all three Springfield-are Kroger pharmacy locations, will give all of the doses by Thursday.
“We are very happy with the number of people that have called in and gone online and registered,” Patterson said. “We have a full clinic (Tuesday), Wednesday and Thursday.”
Despite the health district being completely booked, George Wellington, age 82, said the wait for his shot was “pretty quick.” He said the decision to get vaccination was a no brainer.
“I don’t want to get the virus,” Wellington said.
Raymond Cooper, a retired pediatric doctor who had a practice in Springfield for many years, also received his first doses of the vaccine on Tuesday. Cooper, who is also 82, said he feels the vaccine is “very safe.”
“I think its been well studied and the trials have seemed to be well organized and it seems to be a good vaccine from the research that’s been done,” Cooper said.
Cooper said since the pandemic began last March, he “hasn’t really been out much.”
“It seems like things feel a lot safer with getting the vaccine,” Cooper said.
Patterson said the health district is already looking forward to finding out how many doses the county will receive next week, so they can start scheduling appointments.
Gov. Mike DeWine released the vaccination schedule for Phase 1b, a group that includes Ohioans ages 65 and older, K-12 school staff and those with severe medical issues, two weeks ago.
Those ages 80 and older began receiving vaccinations statewide on Tuesday, with the state extending the age group eligible to receive the vaccine by five years each week from now on. That means residents ages 75 and older could receive their first shot as early as next week.
But even though the county received about 2,000 doses this week, there are 5,600 Clark County residents ages 80 and up, according to a joint statement from the CCCHD and Clark County Emergency Management Agency. That could mean as more candidates become eligible for vaccination each week, the gap between those receiving a shot and those who want one may widen.
“We are working very hard to make sure everyone who wants vaccine in Clark County will be able to get a vaccine,” Patterson said. “Please be patient.”
Currently, the health district is only scheduling appointments for those in Phase 1a or residents ages 80 and up. Those who meet those qualifications are encouraged to sign up for alerts from the health district at ccchd.com or by calling at 937-717-2439.
More information about how eligible residents can schedule a vaccination appointment at one of the other six county providers is also available on the health district’s website.
Clark County had cases 10,672 of the coronavirus as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The county also had 259 deaths and 12 probable deaths, according to data from the CCCHD.
As of Tuesday, 4,914 vaccination shots have been given in Clark County, according to ODH. That’s about 3.6% of the county’s population.
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