More vaccine doses coming to county soon

WAPAKONETA — Hours after the Auglaize County Health Department board met on Tuesday, U. S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced the government would be releasing its entire vaccination supply to states,

rather than holding second doses in reserve.

Azar said the U. S. is currently getting vaccines into arms at a rate of 700,000 vaccinations per day. The next phase of the federal vaccine distribution includes encouraging states to expand eligible groups and access points. During a press conference Tuesday, CDC Director Robert Redfield strongly recommended vaccinations be expanded to those 65 and older because of their vulnerability.

In December, there were 704 COVID-19 cases detected in Auglaize County and since the pandemic began there have been 48 related deaths.

“The numbers are still on the rise and staying steady, which is unfortunate,” Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher said.

The county health department held a clinic on Dec. 30, with 62 vaccinations conducted that day. Two of those vaccinations were extra doses.

Starting Jan. 19, vaccines will be available to Tier 1-B which includes those age 65 and older.

In Auglaize County, side effects of receiving the vaccines have been minimal though a few people have reported a light fever, fatigue, sweating or soreness. Dr. Juan Torres said he didn’t have any symptoms when he took the vaccine and “didn’t even feel it.”

Torres said symptoms could be from an antibody response to the vaccine. He encouraged people to make sure to receive their booster shots after their first dose.

On Thursday, it is anticipated there will be an interactive map released by state officials to find locations in the area where people can go to be vaccinated. Fisher said he is hoping to get more providers enrolled in that process to help make the vaccine more available, though Fisher said they are available at the health department on a scheduled basis.

The shot costs $20 and is billable through health insurance.

As of right now Kroger and Joint Township District Memorial Hospital will also be able to distribute vaccines.

Fisher said they have only been receiving about 100 doses each week at the health department, which limits what they can provide. He noted the 80 and older category, which could receive prioritization, is still large in Ohio and it could take a month to vaccinate that group through the entire state.

He said the doses are being sent out based on weekly surveys of county needs and that the system makes it difficult to plan weeks ahead of time. Fisher said setting up a drive thru clinic with only a 100 doses would cause mass chaos.

The health department has received numerous phone calls from people wanting to get scheduled.

He said they have tried to not take waitlists because they can be difficult to manage as they grow.

He said they have started preparing lists of school staff, to better prepare for when that distribution is available to them.

Fisher said he could see performing on-site vaccinations for school staff.

Vaccines from Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca are expected to improve availability once they are approved.

Contact tracing and COVID-response grants had been given extensions until next December.

Fisher also reported that they received an enhance operation grant for $127,000 which the department has until July to spend.

The COVID-19 needs assessment grant — for $20,000 — needs to be spent by March.