Younger age groups now eligible for Pfizer vaccine shots

Children ages 5-12 age group are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.

Auglaize County Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher confirmed the only place to get the Pfizer vaccine in Auglaize County currently is through Joint Township District Memorial Hospital.

Ultra cold storage is a limitation for Pfizer vaccines. Fisher is still hoping to see the age limit for Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines lowered so more providers can offer vaccinations to younger age groups.

Vaccinations were a topic of discussion at the Auglaize Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting Wednesday. Agency Secretary Don Jump said the health department has just started their booster shot clinics for COVID-19 vaccines.

He said the goal was to distribute 66 vaccines per day on Wednesdays.

“All of the clinics so far seem to be filling up,” Jump said. “Many of the people who got the original shot are wanting to get the boosters.”

Jump said COVID-19 infections are higher than they have been during the summer, and while there seems to be an overall downward trend for COVID-19 cases, Jump remains concerned about hospitalizations.

Jump reported that both the Medical Reserve Corps and the Community Emergency Response Team participated in the recent Flu drive thru clinic.

“We were a little disappointed last year our clinic did 350 vaccinations, this year it was 185,” Jump said, adding counties from around the region also experienced a decline. He also noted that Dearbaugh Avenue was closed at that time.

Jump is concerned that they could see an uptick in flu cases.

Members did not have a quorum and were able to share reports but unable to take any action.

The LEPC is still looking for a member to replace Jump, who is retiring. There have been no nominations

submitted at this time.

Auglaize EMA Director Troy Anderson reported Auglaize County’s updated hazardous materials plan has been submitted to the state. Anderson said he would forward information from a recent webinar about hazmat inspections to area facilities.

Anderson reported a tabletop/ functional exercise is scheduled for Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Anderson said the exercise would help St. Marys schools fulfill their training requirements.

Ohio EMA consultant Sam Reed said there would be a scenario built around an employee’s discontented spouse, which would allow for officials to practice notification procedures.

A full scale exercise for Wapakoneta City Schools will likely be planned next year.

Members also discussed statewide updates and initiatives.

Jump said Ohio Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control suggested health officials might be more involved in area spills in the future due to possible health impacts.

Reed said updates are being made to the LEPC handbook; he also mentioned Senate Bill 22 which takes away executive authorities of a health commissioner to make quarantine and isolation restrictions without a medical diagnosis.

Fisher later confirmed this hasn’t affected contact tracing or quarantining efforts for positive cases and that medical diagnoses can come from health care providers, medical technicians or a federally authorized at home test.