PCHD says local demand low for COVID-19 vaccines
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH Since the COVID-19 vaccines became available, local health departments said they have been long prepared to distribute doses to Scioto County residents.
What now presents a considerable challenge to that effort Portsmouth City Health Commissioner Chris Smith says is low demand with vaccines available to all Ohioans above the age of 16.
Over the past month, Smith said a shift from high demand, low supply to low demand, high supply has transpired.
“When we went to do our big clinic for the week, right after Shawnee, it just dried up and didn’t have the demand at all,” he said Friday that first SSU clinic taking place April 1 where more than 400 received the Pfizer vaccine for the first time.
Purrfect pets
By Kimberly Jenkins - kjenkins@aimmediamidwest.com
This little sweetie is Rosie.
Submitted Photos
Submitted Photos
Submitted Photos
Submitted Photos
SCIOTO “I think having an animal in your life makes you a better human.” Rachael Ray, American Television Personality says and for many animal lovers, there is not much that is more special than spending time with their animals.
This past year, pets became more important than ever as people were confined to their homes and were able to spend so much more quality time with their pets than they had in the past. People that didn’t have pets before also took to getting one while they were there to teach them and to keep them company when they were home alone for such a long period.
PCHD, SCHD plans for Phase 1-B of COVID vaccine
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
Scioto County leads Ohio with 4.2% of its population already starting the Covid vaccination process, but that process has been much slower than expected. High numbers of phone calls led the Portsmouth City and Scioto County Health Departments to create a form for interested people belonging to Phase 1-B of the rollout. Photo by Patrick Keck.
PORTSMOUTH Reporting countless phone calls while receiving lower than anticipated amounts of COVID vaccines, the Portsmouth City and Scioto County Health Departments released a Google form Tuesday morning to track requests for the vaccine.
Smooth rollout for first week of Scioto County vaccines
Staff report
PORTSMOUTH According to the Scioto EMA Joint Information Center, approximately 814 people in Scioto County including health care personnel, EMS, and public health vaccination staff have received their first doses of the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 in the county’s first week of vaccinating. Christine Thomas, Portsmouth City Health Department’s Director of Nursing was the first in the county to receive the vaccine.
Another shipment of Moderna doses is expected to arrive at local health departments, hospitals, and other Ohio Department of Health-approved facilities this week. Scioto County vaccination sites will continue to provide the vaccine to front line health care workers, then offer the vaccination to staff and then the residents of long-term care facilities and home health care providers once more doses are available. The Moderna vaccine requires a second dose 28 days after the first.
PCHD administers first COVID vaccines
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PCHD Director of Nursing Christine Thomas (right) received the first Covid vaccine Monday afternoon from Public Health Nurse Mandy Whisman. Photo by Patrick Keck.
PORTSMOUTH The first steps were taken in Portsmouth to halt the spread of the coronavirus Monday afternoon following the vaccination of two city Health Department nurses.
Slightly after 2 p.m. at the PCHD building, Public health nurse Mandy Whisman administred the first COVID vaccine to Director of Nursing Christine Thomas in front of members of the local media. The two soon after switched roles, Thomas administering to Whisman.