Charles Patterson, the health commissioner for the CCCHD, said when those vaccines are received locally, the health district is ready and prepared to begin giving them “within a very short period of time.”
“The most important thing for people to know right now is that this vaccine is exciting. One of the key principles of public health is prevention. We’d love to have prevention available,” Patterson said in his weekly coronavirus update. “We’re ready as soon as we get vaccine, within a very short period of time we can start putting that vaccine into the people who want that vaccine.”
Springfield Regional Medical Center will be one of just 10 locations across the state to receive the first shipments of the vaccine. Locations were selected based on population, geography, and access to ulta-cold storage capacity.
The medical center’s first shipment will likely be between 975 and 1,950 doses, Patterson said earlier this week, however, those numbers have also not yet been finalized.
SRMC will have a vaccine freezer that is large enough to store 56,000 doses, Patterson said.
Patterson said he understands some people are hesitant to get the vaccine and encourages those who have questions to reach out to the health district.
“We’re happy to talk to you about it,” Patterson said. “Let me be clear, there is no mandate that people get the vaccine. So if you are one of those that is not sure about it yet, and your number comes up and it’s your turn to get the vaccine and you are not ready that’s okay. There are plenty of other people who will want it.”
Patterson said he himself will get the vaccine when it is offered to him, and he will encourage his family and friends to do so as well.
“There are plenty of other people, like me, who will step up and get the vaccine when their number comes up. I protect myself so that I won’t be passing it along to other people,” Patterson said.
Clark County had a total of 6,171 cases, 150 deaths and five probable deaths of the coronavirus as of Friday, according to ODH.
Between Thursday and Friday, the state reported 10,114 cases and 129 deaths of COVID-19, according to ODH. In total, Ohio has reported 456,963 cases and 6,882 deaths as of Friday.
Upcoming free COVID-19 testing:
1-5 p.m., Sunday
Clark County Fairgrounds
4401 S. Charleston Pike, Springfield
No appointment required. The clinic will be socially distanced and indoors due to cold weather. Pre-registration for the event is available on the health district’s website. (ccchd.com)
Facts & Figures:
1: Local medical center that will receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the first shipment
6,171: Total COVID-19 cases in Clark County, as of Friday
155: Total COVID-19 deaths in Clark County, as of Friday
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