Friday, January 15th, 2021
Vaccine drive-thru details released
Fairgrounds clinic for those 80 and older
By Leslie Gartrell
CELINA - Organizers of Mercer County Health District's COVID-19 drive-thru vaccine clinic scheduled for Wednesday at the Mercer County Fairgrounds will now accept appointments.
Officials from the district and Mercer County Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday issued a joint news release detailing plans for the clinic, which is for people aged 80 and older.
The clinic had been planned to be first-come, first-served. However, officials on Thursday said they decided to require appointments, citing high demand for the vaccine and consideration for the needs of the population to be vaccinated.
The change will help shorten wait times, avoid traffic problems around the fairgrounds and keep people from wasting their time should the supply of vaccines be exhausted before they receive a dose, according to the release.
People who are 80 and older and want to schedule an appointment for the clinic may do so online at eventbrite.com/e/covid-19-drive-thru-clinic-tickets-136822157757.
Online registration opens at 8 a.m. today. Vaccine recipients will be asked to enter their name, date of birth and phone number. Participants can get through the clinic more quickly and easily if they print out the Eventbrite ticket or take it on a phone or tablet.
Anyone unable to register online can make an appointment by calling 567-890-2619.
The clinic is scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Officials will administer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
People in other Phase 1B groups will be vaccinated in a tiered approach. Ohioans 75 years old and older and people with severe congenital or developmental disorders can be vaccinated the week of Jan. 25.
The week of Feb. 1, Ohioans 70 and older and people who work in schools can be vaccinated, and Ohioans 65 and older can be vaccinated the week of Feb. 8.
Additionally, the Ohio Department of Health launched a tool today on coronavirus.ohio.gov to help residents find a provider that has been allotted vaccines.
The tool will be searchable by zip code or county but will not be updated in real time, according to a news release from Gov. Mike DeWine's office. Those eligible to receive a vaccine are encouraged to consult local resources to determine up-to-date vaccine availability, the release states.
Officials in an Auglaize County Health Department news release on Thursday noted the department's COVID-19 vaccine clinics for people 80 and older are fully booked until Jan. 29 due to high demand and a limited number of doses.
Public information officer Caitlin Decker said the department has 280 appointments booked for first-dose vaccines until Jan. 29. The department also has appointments booked for people who need their second dose.
Officials in the release said they anticipate scheduling again for clinics on Jan. 28 for the following week. The area also has several other providers residents can contact for additional availability.
People can call Grand Lake Health System at 419-300-1132 and leave a message or visit grandlakehealth.org. A hospital staff member will call back to schedule appointments beginning Monday.
Beginning Saturday, people can call Kroger Pharmacy at 866-211-5320 or visit kroger.com/ohiocovidvaccine to schedule an appointment.
Residents also can call Mercy Health-St. Rita's Medical Center at 419-996-5000 to schedule an appointment. If individuals are an established Mercy Health patient, they can call their provider to schedule an appointment.
