There is a race for vaccines in many parts of Ohio, as those who are eligible run to websites of health clinics and pharmacies to schedule vaccine appointments as they become available.
It is the first day of a mass vaccination clinic at St. John Arena on the Ohio State University campus. Amy McCormick of Kroger says that this mass vaccination clinic in Columbus was set up to be efficient.
“It is a well-oiled machine. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible. We are doing an average of about 300 vaccines per hour. Just over 3,000 a day and again, over the course of four days, we will run more than 12,000 vaccines, “says McCormick.
Kroger also operates a similar mass vaccination clinic at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati. The slots in both locations were filled almost as fast as online. There is also a federal vaccination clinic at the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland.
This is one of Ohio’s 15 mass vaccination clinics in large cities as well as smaller cities, including Dayton, Cincinnati, Athens, Youngstown, Steubenville, Ada, Zanesville, Marietta, Maumee, Lima, Wilmington and Akron. Soon, four mobile clinics will also be operating.
And there are more than 1,200 pharmacies and medical clinics across the state where people can get their vaccinations.
Columbus’ Lorezno Thomas says he is thrilled to receive his first of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
“I have to answer. I just want to be safe for my family, for everyone “, says Thomas.
Thomas is an African American, a group that medical experts fear may hesitate to get vaccines. State health leaders have been reaching minority populations in recent weeks with city halls and PSAs, including prominent African Americans from Ohio. Thomas says that the people he knows do not need to be convinced anymore.
“Everyone is getting their shots. My entire neighborhood is receiving your photos. They arrived before me. ”
While some city residents say they are going to small towns to get vaccines, some residents there are making the trip to the biggest vaccination clinics like this one. Rachelle Hepperly came from Waynesville.
“I think that as soon as we are available for that, we should do it. I work in the medical field, but I wanted everyone who needed it to understand first. I’m an administrator, so I thought about waiting, but I wanted to make sure I got it, because if that’s what we can do to help everyone else, we should get it, “says Hepperly.
Some county-run clinics may require injections to be given only to local residents. And some neighboring states may refuse to vaccinate Ohio residents. But anyone who meets the state’s proposed medical, age or occupational restrictions can use Ohio-sponsored mass vaccination clinics. Christopher Rieder, of West Palm Beach, Florida, is living with his older parents in central Ohio, helping them to overcome this pandemic. He didn’t want to wait until he got home to get the vaccine.
“The sooner the better for me, as far as I’m concerned, because herd immunity is going to be very difficult in this country, you know 80% -75%, there are so many people saying ‘I don’t need this. I don’t want that ‘, so the more of us get the shot, the sooner we get to a place where we can think of it as the flu, where we can just think,’ I’m fine. I have everything under control “, says Rieder.
Vaccine supply has increased in recent weeks. And as it happened, eligibility was expanded. Anyone aged 40 or over or who has a long list of medical conditions or who works in qualified occupations may have the chance now. And on March 29, anyone over the age of 16 will be able to get vaccinated, although minors will be restricted to receiving doses of Pfizer. Almost 24% of Ohio’s total population has begun the process of obtaining COVID vaccines. Over 13% of all Ohioans are fully immunized. The state created the website gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov to provide information on where vaccines are available and how to schedule them.