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CINCINNATI – Jill Threm felt like she won the lottery on Thursday.
That’s when she and other Ohioans 50 and older became eligible to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccination. She got lucky and was able to secure a date quickly despite fierce competition for the limited supply.
“I’m still shaking because I was so excited,” she told WCPO.
But places are filling up quickly, especially on the day an estimated 1.4 million more people in Ohio became eligible for the vaccine, bringing the total number of people who can enroll statewide to around 2. ,2 millions.
In addition to people over 50, Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered a number of other essential workers and high-risk populations to be able to sign up for a date as well. The state this week launched an online tool to determine if a person is eligible.
Each week, Ohio distributes about 500,000 doses of the vaccine to private and public health care clinics and pharmacies across the state, according to epidemiologist Stephanie Courtney of the Cincinnati Department of Health.
She said Thursday it was probably too late to get an appointment this week, but the Ohio Department of Health plans to administer around 10,000 doses at the Cintas Center later next week.
The new level of eligibility added about 2.2 million Ohioans to the list, Courtney said, and each provider may have their own specific criteria.
“Some will immunize people who live anywhere in the state of Ohio; some will immunize anyone who works in Ohio, even if you live out of state,” Courtney said.
The Cincinnati Health Department limited its distribution to people who lived or worked in the city, but relaxed that rule Thursday to include anyone living or working in Hamilton County.
The Cincinnati Department of Health uses the Armor Vaxx app where workers and eligible county residents can register and receive notification when appointments are open in your area.
The app will also notify users when a pop-up vaccination spot appears on that day.
Apple users can download the app here. Android users can here.
Courtney added that other Ohio counties were helping as long as the patient lived in the state.
Courtney recommends trying the following steps when trying to book a date:
- Call your doctor or pharmacy directly to see if they have any available appointments
- Register via Kroger
- Register with your local or county health department
Courtney also gave Hamilton County residents an insider tip: Every Wednesday, the Cincinnati Health Department finds out how many doses it will receive from the state. She said that means that on these days there are usually more open dates.
The Cincinnati Health Department can be reached by phone at 513-352-2927.
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