Clark begins giving all 16 and older vaccines
Those under 18 need a parent’s permission and be accompanied.
The Clark County Combined Health District began vaccinating all residents over the age of 16 years old Tuesday.
Gov. Mike DeWine opened up eligibility for all residents over 16 years old, regardless of health conditions or occupations, last week. That meant that residents were able to begin signing up for appointments then and begin receiving shots on Monday.
Bass Moore, a 17-year-old senior at Greenon High School, said he “wasn’t specifically waiting,” for DeWine to lower the age requirement but wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.
“I just want to make the process of the world opening back up even quicker,” Moore said. “I’m hoping to help everyone else out by doing this.”
Because Bass is under the age of 18, it is required to have a parent’s permission and to have a parent present while he received his vaccine. Pamela Moore was “absolutely” on board with his decision.
“It was imperative for us that we get it done before he goes to school this fall before he goes to college,” Pamela Moore said.
Piper Atkinson, 16, said unlike Moore, she had been waiting what felt like “a very long time” to get her vaccine.
“I came to get the COVID vaccine so I could see my grandparents again,” Atkinson said.
Last week, the CCCHD and Mercy Health released a joint statement encouraging “everyone” to get vaccinated after cases and hospitalizations tripled in one week in the county.
“Everyone, including low-risk
individuals, is encouraged to get the vaccine,” the statement said.
The CCCHD is scheduling vaccination appointments for this week and next on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling 937-717-2439 or online at ccchd.com.
As of Tuesday, 38,898 Clark County residents had received at least one COVID19 vaccine shot, according to data from ODH. Of that, about 9% are under 30.
Nearly 30% of Clark County’s total population has received at least one vaccination shot. Just over 19% have been fully vaccinated.
Statewide, about 13% of those 20 and under have received at least one shot, according to ODH. As of Tuesday, 3,322,481 people in Ohio had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 1,907,577 had finished their vaccinations.
Clark County had 13,107 active cases of the coronavirus as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the Ohio
Department of Health.
Ohio recorded 2,458 daily cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, the second-highest number of daily cases for the state in the last three weeks, according to ODH.
The state has only surpassed 2,000 cases one other time in the last three weeks, with 2,104 daily cases reported on March 18.
Over the last three weeks, Ohio has averaged 1,617 cases a day. Since the pandemic began, the state has reported 1,015,577.
Ohio also reported 83 deaths on Tuesday. There have been 18,611 total deaths in Ohio since the pandemic began last year.
Contact this reporter at 937-610-7447 or email Riley. Newton@coxinc.com.