Youngstown City Health District will administer 500 COVID-19 vaccines this week
YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown City Health District is expected to administer 500 Moderna coronavirus vaccinations by the end of this week to people who qualify for Phase 1A.
Health Commissioner Erin Bishop said over five days, about 350 vaccinations have been administered to Youngstown Fire Department firefighters, Americal Medical Response EMS employees and residents and staff of congregate settings, such as rehab facilities and mental health centers.
Phase 1A includes healthcare workers and personnel, EMS responders, people with developmental disabilities and mental health disorders and residents and staff at congregate living facilities — including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals and Ohio veterans homes.
“A lot of the group homes we are tackling this week [and] our schedule is filling up for next week,” Bishop said.
The health department will vaccinate residents and caregivers in these congregate care facilities this week:
- Turning Point Residential
- Youth Intensive Services
- The Purple Cat
- Iron and String Life Enhancement
- Meridian Men’s Center
- Carter House
- Burdman Group
- Flo’s Leisure Live-In
- Broadway Housing Communities
By Friday, about 500 of the 800 doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine the health department received will be administered.
Last week, the health department vaccinated about 120 people including Gateways to Better Living residents and staff. Bishop said the health department will continue vaccinating group homes and recovery housing next week.
The health department is working on plans for Phase 1B vaccinations, Bishop said.
Phase 1B is focused on vaccinating Ohioans who are age 65 and older and people living with severe congenital, developmental or early-onset medical disorders. The phase also includes adults working in schools so students can return in-person by March 1.
Youngstown City Schools returned from winter break Monday and will continue with remote learning until plans are made for vaccine distribution for teachers in the school district.
CEO Justin Jennings said the school district won’t make anyone get the vaccine if they don’t want it. There will eventually be plans for teachers to get the vaccine if they want it so schools can return in-person.
Jennings said there have not been conversations about Phase 1B with the health department and the school district yet.
Youngstown City Health District asks people who qualify for Phase 1B to fill out the coronavirus vaccination form on its website.
Bishop said the form will help the health department plan for the right amount of staff and vaccinations for the next phase. When the health department can start vaccinating Phase 1B, people who filled out the form will be contacted to schedule an appointment at a vaccination clinic.
“We're asking people to sign up so that when we're ready to go, we have this list,” Bishop said.
Bishop said the department is also asking people who are registered nurses to volunteer their time to help administer vaccines. Youngstown City Health District only has two nurses on staff.
Additional nurses will also help when people have to return for their second dose of the vaccination after 28 days, Bishop said.
"So we are hoping that anyone wants to donate some time and be a part of public health history and vaccinations, they could contact the health department," Bishop said.
This story was originally published January 7, 2021 at 5:11 AM with the headline "Youngstown City Health District will administer 500 COVID-19 vaccines this week."