The new COVID vaccine has made it to Scioto County and will be the star of local outreach clinics countywide soon. Until then, local residents can get to the Scioto County Health Department to get their jab and help reduce likelihood of severe disease.
According to Scioto County Health Department Director of Nursing Tracey Henderson, the number of people hospitalized with COVID infection in Scioto County was 155. However, the numbers may be misleading with the use of home tests becoming more popular.
“Cases are rising, they’ve been rising steadily for the last six weeks or so. The good news is there were no new hospitalizations of that same time frame,” Henderson said. “We aren’t seeing a lot of hospitalizations with this, so that is a very good thing.”
The newest vaccine, produced by Pfizer and Moderna, fights the newest variants of the Coronavirus, which causes COVID infections.
But who should get this vaccine?
“The CDC recommended that everybody 6 months and older get the vaccine and, of course, that’s a personal decision between the physician and themselves,” Henderson said, adding that those most at risk for severe symptoms “should pay attention nd get it sooner rather than later.”
But who is most at risk? Those 65 or older, and anyone with significant chronic health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and obesity.
The Pfizer shots are here and ready to be deployed in the war on COVID.
“We received our first shipment last Friday, so we have the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and older in stock,” Henderson said. The Moderna shots will be in Scioto County soon. “The new COVID vaccine does reportedly have good effectiveness.”
It doesn’t matter which COVID vaccine anyone has already had, Pfizer and Moderna can both be used in conjunction with each other.
“It’s fine to mix and match brands,” Henderson said. “In other words, it doesn’t matter what brand of COVID vaccine they’ve had before.”
Those who are currently dealing with a COVID infection or who have recently recovered, they may want to wait. Enjoy that natural immunity for a few months.
“If anyone has had a COVID vaccine within the last two months, they should wait to get it,” Henderson said. “There’s no hard and fast rule on that. In general, the thinking is you’ll want to wait two or three months after you’ve had a COVID infection to get a vaccine.”
Henderson also said people should be preparing for the upcoming flu season by getting their vaccinations. The health department is offering both the flu and COVID vaccinations right now.
“It is fine to take the flu and the COVID vaccine together,” she said
The health department is trying to make it easy for locals to get their vaccinations, whether it’s COVID or flu. In addition to taking walk-ins at the office, the department will be doing outreach events for folks who may not be able to make it to their office downtown.
“We try to make it as easy for people as possible,” Henderson said. “They can walk in from Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.” at the Scioto County Health Department, located in the Scioto County Courthouse Annex, 612 Sixth St., Portsmouth. This is the building across from the main entrance of the courthouse.
People getting their shots through the health department, whether at the offices or at a clinic, should bring their photo ID, any health insurance information they might have, and their COVID vaccine card, if they have one.
In addition to taking walk-ins at the department, local residents can also visit any of the vaccination clinics the health department has planned:
Scioto County Courthouse atrium
602 Seventh St., Portsmouth
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 3
Flu and Covid vaccines
Health Fair by Pleasant Green Baptist church
Farley Square Community Center
11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 7
Flu and COVID vaccines
Wheelersburg Senior Apartments
9004 Ohio River Road, Wheelersburg
10-11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10
Flu and COVID vaccines
God’s Food Pantry
Second Presbyterian
80 Waller St., Portsmouth
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 11
Flu and COVID vaccines
Minford Schools Family Night
4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 17
Flu and COVID vaccines
Bear Creek United Methodist Church
8784 Bear Creek Road, Lucasville
10 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, Oct. 24
Flu and COVID
