New way to schedule COVID-19 vaccine coming to Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown City Health District website will soon feature a new way for people who qualify for Phase 2 or Phase 1C to register for the coronavirus vaccine.

Health Commissioner Erin Bishop said during Wednesday's City Council meeting that the pilot program will allow people to schedule their appointment online.

Bishop said the state of Ohio eventually wants all health departments to be on a system that allows everyone in the state to register themselves for the vaccine on the same platform.

The health department is still accepting calls to schedule vaccine appointments for people who do not have internet access or who need help navigating the website.

"We will be there to help our citizens get that done," Bishop said.

Phase 2 opens vaccine eligibility to Ohioans who are age 60 and older.

Phase 1C includes about 246,000 Ohioans: those with Type 1 diabetes; pregnant women; those who have had bone marrow transplants; and those working in certain occupations such as child care services and funeral services as well as law enforcement or corrections officers.

The health department has administered more than 8,000 vaccinations since the start on Dec. 30, Bishop said.

"I am very proud of the staff of the Youngstown city health department," she added.

Bishop said the health department is considering mass vaccination clinics by the first week of April with the Federal Emergency Management Agency "as we get into more of the general population [and] younger folks."

She said the department is looking to do the clinics at large venues in Youngstown, like the Covelli Centre, since the goal is to vaccinate 1,500 to 2,500 people per day.

Bishop said it is also a goal to get more vaccine clinics available in different parts of the city.

The health department has been using the Eugenia Atkinson Recreation Center, 903 Otis St., to vaccinate people with Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. Bishop said the location makes it easy to administer two doses. However, the department has received 300 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week. Since this new shot requires just one dose, Bishop said she hopes to do so at various locations.

Councilman Julius Oliver, 1st Ward, asked Bishop for clarity on how effective the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is versus the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

Bishop said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 75 percent effective against COVID-19. Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are both 95 percent effective.

"Even though it's only 75 percent, it's still doing its job of fighting off the virus," Bishop said.

Bishop said a lot of people have been asking to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because they only want to receive one dose.

Oliver also asked if there have been any requests to host events for St. Patrick's Day.

On Tuesday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced changes to Ohio health orders on mass gatherings, sports and entertainment venues. Orders were revised to allow more people at indoor and outdoor sports and entertainment venues. Other large events no longer have a 300-person limitation but still must comply with other health orders.

Bishop said as of now, there have not been any requests to the health department for St. Patrick's Day events in the city.

"We are still going to really encourage social distancing [and] mask-wearing," Bishop added.

Councilwoman Anita Davis, 6th Ward, asked if vaccines would be optional or required for all safety personnel in the city.

Bishop said it is optional and will be up to each department to decide to receive the vaccine. She said several departments, including the Youngstown Police Department and Youngstown State University Police, have already inquired about receiving vaccines.

FINANCE DIRECTOR APPOINTED

City council unanimously voted to appoint Kyle Miasek as the finance director for the city of Youngstown.

Miasek was appointed the interim director in January 2018, after serving as the deputy finance director for 12 years.

"I would just like to thank all of you for being supportive of me being put in that position by the administration," Miasek said.

In February, the city council approved an increase for the finance director's annual salary by about 15 percent — from $83,948 to $96,553.

This story was originally published March 4, 2021 at 4:25 AM with the headline "New way to schedule COVID-19 vaccine coming to Youngstown."