As the one-year mark of mourning is reached Tuesday, Ohio is looking ahead towards what it hopes will be a less deadly spring and summer.It was on this date one year ago that Ohio’s first cases of COVID-19 were identified in Cuyahoga County. Flags were at half-staff throughout the state Tuesday in remembrance of the coronavirus victims.Gov. Mike DeWine toured a vaccination clinic at Ohio State, emphasizing yet again that he believes the state is now on the offensive to defeat the pandemic.As he toured, a 58-year-old man returned to a city of Cincinnati clinic at the College Hill Recreation Center.There was no masking the frustration he was feeling about it. He has wanted the vaccine since December, been to the center more than once and came Tuesday with confirmation in hand only to have it canceled.He had signed up online and got a confirmation despite the current age cutoff of 60 and above.”A guy just told me, he said, ‘Go in there and lie and say that you got an underlying condition.’ I don’t want to lie and say I got an underlying condition. I just want to get the shot,” the man said asking that he not be identified by name.”People that I registered with yesterday told me I was fine.”He has watched younger people go inside and get vaccinated. There are exceptions that have been carved out by the state.Amiri Diop-West qualified as a child care worker.”Knowing that their parents are working in, like hospitals. And so, it’s kind of important for me to get a vaccine just to make sure that I’m keeping the kids safe and their parents by working front line,” he explained.Front-line grocery employees, however, despite their 2020 “essential” status, are still waiting.Sherrie Wiley of Mt. Healthy told us she got in through her school district.”Other people are really having a hard time gettin’ in,” she related. “You know, the website as soon as it comes up, they’re full.”Some sites have changed over to schedule those in their 50s, while others have yet to make the changeover.DeWine said it can take 72 hours to reorient and is pushing them to be ready by Thursday.”We’re entering a new phase here,” said Kate Schroder who is coordinating vaccine distribution in this region for the Health Collaborative.”It’s great that the Governor has expanded eligibility again this week,” she enthused.She noted there are some sites that are able to open up their scheduling system a little faster than others.You must schedule ahead of time. So just showing up at the Duke Energy Convention Center mass vaccination site on Saturday won’t get it done.We’re told 1,260 appointments are still available, and 1,500 have already been scheduled.Maureen Shoemaker got her shot in College Hill today and said “Most of the people that I know, yes. They’re all waiting to say when is it my turn?”To date, 2 million Ohioans have received their first dose. One million have had both doses.Now those in their 50s are ready to rock.Shortly after the 58-year-old man was told to come back Thursday, a 50-year-old whose wife signed him up went in and was vaccinated.”Thought the shot was for everybody,” said the 58-year-old. “Makes me seem like they pickin’ and choosin’ who they want to give the shot to.”
As the one-year mark of mourning is reached Tuesday, Ohio is looking ahead towards what it hopes will be a less deadly spring and summer.
It was on this date one year ago that Ohio’s first cases of COVID-19 were identified in Cuyahoga County.
Flags were at half-staff throughout the state Tuesday in remembrance of the coronavirus victims.
Gov. Mike DeWine toured a vaccination clinic at Ohio State, emphasizing yet again that he believes the state is now on the offensive to defeat the pandemic.
As he toured, a 58-year-old man returned to a city of Cincinnati clinic at the College Hill Recreation Center.
There was no masking the frustration he was feeling about it.
He has wanted the vaccine since December, been to the center more than once and came Tuesday with confirmation in hand only to have it canceled.
He had signed up online and got a confirmation despite the current age cutoff of 60 and above.
“A guy just told me, he said, ‘Go in there and lie and say that you got an underlying condition.’ I don’t want to lie and say I got an underlying condition. I just want to get the shot,” the man said asking that he not be identified by name.
“People that I registered with yesterday told me I was fine.”
He has watched younger people go inside and get vaccinated. There are exceptions that have been carved out by the state.
Amiri Diop-West qualified as a child care worker.
“Knowing that their parents are working in, like hospitals. And so, it’s kind of important for me to get a vaccine just to make sure that I’m keeping the kids safe and their parents by working front line,” he explained.
Front-line grocery employees, however, despite their 2020 “essential” status, are still waiting.
Sherrie Wiley of Mt. Healthy told us she got in through her school district.
“Other people are really having a hard time gettin’ in,” she related. “You know, the website as soon as it comes up, they’re full.”
Some sites have changed over to schedule those in their 50s, while others have yet to make the changeover.
DeWine said it can take 72 hours to reorient and is pushing them to be ready by Thursday.
“We’re entering a new phase here,” said Kate Schroder who is coordinating vaccine distribution in this region for the Health Collaborative.
“It’s great that the Governor has expanded eligibility again this week,” she enthused.
She noted there are some sites that are able to open up their scheduling system a little faster than others.
You must schedule ahead of time. So just showing up at the Duke Energy Convention Center mass vaccination site on Saturday won’t get it done.
We’re told 1,260 appointments are still available, and 1,500 have already been scheduled.
Maureen Shoemaker got her shot in College Hill today and said “Most of the people that I know, yes. They’re all waiting to say when is it my turn?”
To date, 2 million Ohioans have received their first dose. One million have had both doses.
Now those in their 50s are ready to rock.
Shortly after the 58-year-old man was told to come back Thursday, a 50-year-old whose wife signed him up went in and was vaccinated.
“Thought the shot was for everybody,” said the 58-year-old. “Makes me seem like they pickin’ and choosin’ who they want to give the shot to.”
