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Over 400 get vaccine at clinic

By DEANNE JOHNSON 5 min read

LISBON – Vehicles snaked their way through the Columbiana County Fairgrounds on Friday leading to another 414 local elderly residents receiving their first doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

After one man got his vaccine, he let out a joyful cheer which echoed inside the new Columbiana County Vaccination Complex building recently constructed at the fairgrounds. Smiles could clearly be seen, even behind the masks.

“This is a big day for our county,” said Hannah Sutton, the public health emergency preparedness director at the county health department. “A big day. This is what people have been waiting for for a long time.”

Although the clinic was scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., vehicles were already lined up outside the fairgrounds entrance when they opened the gates at 7:45 a.m. At one point, vehicles had to be doubled along a section of the fairgrounds track to get everyone into a line inside the fairgrounds.

Even though the numbers of vehicles did slow down later in the day, vehicles continued to come in a few at a time for up to three hours past the closing time.

The coordinator for the mass vaccination event, Laura Fauss, said the health department still had some doses available and people continued to come so they stayed until after 6 p.m. and just continued to add to the total of people who have had that first dose. An entire bottle of vaccine must be used once it is opened because of the short shelf life.

After receiving their dose, residents were given paperwork explaining the vaccine, any possible side effects and a date to return to get the important second dose in a few weeks. There was only one person who reportedly had any problems after receiving the vaccine on Friday and it was determined to have been more stress-related than an allergic reaction.

The health department reported new weekly numbers of coronavirus cases on Friday, an increase of 365 cases over the past seven days, which is an average of 52.1 positive tests per day. Since the emergence of the coronavirus, the county has had 7,343 cases. Of those 6,582 are considered recovered. There were no additional deaths this week related to COVID-19. There have been 127 deaths.

Health Commissioner Wes Vins pointed out 90 of the county’s deaths from COVID-19 were residents ages 80 and older, making them by far the most vulnerable to life-threatening complications from the disease. Some people in line have been afraid to leave their homes much in the last 10 months because they are concerned about catching the virus.

The Columbiana County Vaccination Complex at the fairgrounds will continue to vaccinate those 80 and older next week. To schedule an appointment, call 330-692-2210 between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Sutton noted it is important for people to remember, everybody will get the opportunity to get a vaccine, from either the health department or the other partners offering it throughout the county are required to follow protocols from the state.

“These are two things at the opposite ends of public health,” Vins said, “an outbreak at a prison where people died and a mass vaccination clinic. We’ve seen both here in the last 12 months and we’ve been able to handle them with success through partnerships and cooperation.”

In addition to building the new complex with the county commissioners and others, the health department had other partners at the fairgrounds on Friday. The Health Department staff were assisted by the Community Emergency Response Team, Negley EMS with North Star on standby should that ambulance need to leave the site. The Lisbon Police Department and County Sheriff’s deputies were also assisting. Resident physicians from East Liverpool City Hospital also helped with the vaccinations. John Wolfe, president of the fair board was on hand.

Besides the Vaccination Complex, other places around the county offering vaccine clinics next week are as follows:

– Community Action Agency in East Liverpool; 8 a.m. to noon, Monday, Jan. 25; noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 2; call 330-424-5686 for an appointment.

– Community Action Agency in Lisbon; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26 and Tuesday, Feb. 2, call 330-424-5686 for an appointment.

– Community Action Agency in Salineville; 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25; call 330-424-5686 for an appointment.

– Discount Drug Mart in Lisbon, during pharmacy hours, Sunday Jan. 24 through Saturday, Jan. 30; call 844-625-0843 or visit covid.discount-drugmart.com to make an appointment.

– East Liverpool City Health District; Tuesday, Jan. 26 through Thursday, Jan. 28; call 330-385-5123 and leave a message to get an appointment.

– East Liverpool City Hospital, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25 through Friday, Jan. 29, call 330-385-3590 for an appointment and use the front entrance.

– Giant Eagle Pharmacies in Calcutta, East Liverpool and Salem; during pharmacy hours, Sunday, Jan. 24 through Saturday, Jan. 30, visit www.gianteagle.com/covid to make an appointment, which will only be made when vaccines are available.

– Marc’s Pharmacy in Salem, visit www.marcs.com for an appointment, which will only be made when vaccine supplies are available.

– Salem City Health District, Monday, Jan. 25 through Friday, Jan. 29, call 330-332-1618 and leave a message for an appointment.

– Salem Regional Medical Center, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 28. However, all appointments have already been filled.

Starting at /week.