ASHLAND — The Ashland County Health Department opened its vaccine clinic to anyone age 16 or older on Thursday — approximately a week and a half before the state intends to expand to the same level of eligibility.
The walk-in clinic packed the parking lot of UH Samaritan’s Main Street facility.
“I think it was our busiest one ever,” said UH Samaritan Medical Center’s senior marketing strategist Noah Gangi.
The clinic was intended to wrap up by 3 p.m., but vaccines continued for at least an hour longer.
Despite the rainy weather, a line of people formed outside the building. Many stayed dry under umbrellas, but others hadn’t come prepared. Some waited with only their jacket hoods pulled over their heads.
The walk-in clinic came as a surprise to the community. The Ashland County Health Department invited anyone age 16 or older to stop by via a Facebook post late Thursday morning.
“If you or anyone you know needs or wants a Pfizer COVID vaccine, we are taking walk-ins for ages 16 and older at the UH Samaritan on Main Street at the clinic today,” the post said.
Nichole Moore, 45, had been working at Charles River Laboratories when she was alerted to the news.
She had been trying to register under Phase 2C. The 40-and-older category was to open statewide on Friday.
“I told my boss I had a chance to get it, and he told me to go,” Moore said. “He has said we shouldn’t let work hold us back.”
Her husband qualified for the vaccine sooner. He received his first dose earlier this month.
“I wanted to come here and do my part to keep everyone safe,” Moore said.
In a seat six feet away, an Ashland University student waited for her first shot. Zhane Scott, 21, came to the event because she is a student-teacher. The university had informed her via email that she could attend Friday’s event.
“I just wanted to be prepared. A few of my family members had already got it, and I feel like it’s may job to get it, to keep COVID from spreading,” she said.
Ashland County Emergency Management Agency’s Mark Rafeld hoped 1,300 to 1,400 available vaccinations could be distributed Thursday.
“Shots don’t do any good if we don’t get them in the arms of our community,” he said. ” We did that because we were lagging in registrations for this week’s clinic, and so we decided to expand it.”
Both Pfizer and Moderna were offered Thursday. There is a waiting list for those who are interested only in the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, Rafeld said, but he was unsure when Ashland County would receive more doses.
The clinic Thursday was organized collaboratively by the ACHD, UH Samaritan Medical Center and Ashland’s Drug Mart.
Rafeld anticipates more clinics next Thursday and Friday. A meeting next Tuesday will determine how the clinics operate.
“Our concern is always making sure we’ve done everything we can to reach out to those in the other categories, to reach out to them and get them vaccinated,” he said.
He encouraged anyone in Ashland who may have been missed to follow up by calling 211.
