Coronavirus: DeWine visits Clark County’s vaccination clinic, calls it ‘impressive’

Gov. Mike DeWine visited Clark County’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Upper Valley Mall on Thursday and called the operation “very impressive.”

The governor has been visiting vaccination clinics across the state over the course of the last couple of months. He called the clinic “very impressive” and said operations were “absolutely amazing.

“I looked up the statistics. I knew Clark County was doing well, but so far, Clark County has given close to 27,000 first doses. That puts them out of 88 counties, 10th in the state,” DeWine said. “That’s absolutely amazing.”

He was welcomed on Thursday by Clark County Combined Health District Commissioner Charles Patterson, Clark County Commissioner Richard Lohnes, City of Springfield Commissioner David Estrop and others.

DeWine said he talks on the phone with Patterson, who runs the clinic, every Monday in order “get some data from him and find out what kind of challenges the county is experiencing and what we can do to help.”

“I just want to congratulate the Clark County health department for the job that they are doing here. It’s absolutely phenomenal,” DeWine said.

Patterson told DeWine the clinic plans to give 8,000 vaccinations this week, over half of which will be second doses for K-12 school district employees.

“We appreciate the support that the governor has given us with the amount of vaccine. This is three weeks in a row that we have gotten 3,500 first doses. We got notice that we are going to receive 3,500 additional first doses for next week so we can keep this moving,” Patterson said.

Clark County Health Commissioner Charles Patterson gives Governor Mike DeWine and his wife, Fran, a tour of the Clark County COVID vaccine distribution center at the Upper Valley Mall Thursday. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

The clinic has the ability to vaccinate up to 10,000 people in a single week, Patterson said.

“It all goes back to the amount of vaccine we get and the support of the governor,” Patterson said.

Mic Digionia, owner of Crown Market in Springfield, said he spoke with the governor after he received his shot.

“I’m just so proud of the governor and I’m especially proud of our community and what we have done here,” Digionia said. “This is really something to be proud of.”

Vaccine eligibility opened Thursday to Ohioans ages 50 and older as well as people with type 2 diabetes and end-stage renal disease.

Those also eligible include childcare and funeral services, law enforcement and correction officers, pregnant people, bone marrow transplant recipients and people with ALS or type 1 diabetes who were made eligible for the vaccine on March 4.

Residents eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine can schedule an appointment by calling the health district at 937-717-2439 or can schedule online at ccchd.com.

Clark County 12,465 cases of the coronavirus as of Thursday afternoon, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health. The county also had 319 deaths and 16 probable deaths as of Friday, according to data from the CCCHD. Deaths are updated once a week.

Clark County 12,465 cases of the coronavirus as of Thursday afternoon, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health. The county also had 319 deaths and 16 probable deaths as of Friday, according to data from the CCCHD. Deaths are updated once a week.


Facts & Figures

27,000: Number of first doses of COVID-19 vaccine given in Clark County

10: Where Clark County ranks in vaccine distribution rate out of Ohio’s 88 counties

8,000: Number of vaccines Clark County is giving this week

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