Local hospitals and health departments are changing tactics to reach those still unvaccinated.
“The days of the large COVID clinics are coming to an end,” said Nick Cascarelli, Wayne County health commissioner.
As fewer people book vaccine appointments, health departments in Ashland, Wayne, and Holmes counties are transitioning to more walk-in clinics and pulling back on vaccine orders.
Supply is no longer the issue to getting more people vaccinated.
“It’s not an availability issue,” said Shirley Bixby, nursing director at the Ashland County Health Department. “I think the entire state is seeing saturation” of vaccine doses.
Local health agencies also are holding private clinics for businesses to vaccinate their employees and reaching out to schools to administer vaccines to students as younger age groups become eligible.
Vaccine rates have slowed over the last month in Ohio. The numbers could tick up as children ages 12 to 15 gain access to the Pfizer vaccine.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19. The FDA originally issued authorization for the use of the Pfizer vaccine in individuals 16 years of age and older.
Parents or guardians who want to vaccinate their adolescents may have to wait until local administrators open clinics to the younger age group and county health departments obtain the Pfizer doses. The majority of vaccine shots administered by Holmes and Wayne County health departments have been Moderna.
ORRVILLE - Aultman Orrville Hospital was named to Newsweek’s 2021 list of Best Maternity Care Hospitals.
The distinction recognizes facilities that have provided exceptional care to mothers, newborns and their families, as verified by the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Best Maternity Care Hospitals is part of Newsweek’s Best Health Care series, powered by data from The Leapfrog Group.
Best Maternity Care Hospitals were first designated in 2020.
“Being able to provide care to growing families is such blessing to us, and receiving this award is evidence of the many efforts we put into comforting and supporting expecting parents,” said Jennifer Kessel, CEO, AOH. “This recognition for providing exceptional care during these emotional, life-changing moments is truly an honor for AOH and our compassionate labor and delivery team.”