WHEELING — Four schools around Ohio County will serve as distribution centers for the COVID-19 vaccine, now serving anyone 12 years and older.

Beginning Monday, one school each day through Thursday will host distribution efforts from 4-7 p.m., in addition to the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department’s permanent clinic location at The Highlands. Warwood School will serve as Monday’s hub, The Linsly School on Tuesday, Ritchie Elementary on Wednesday, and Bridge Street Middle School on Thursday, staffed with county employees to distribute the Pfizer vaccine to anyone now eligible, after the approval of children as young as 12.

Each location will serve as the hub for nearby parts of the community, from Warwood, Woodsdale, South Wheeling and Elm Grove. Parents must be present for children up to 15 to get the vaccination, and anyone who is eligible may get their vaccines — not just those in the newly expanded age group.

Health Administrator Howard Gamble said the health department and Ohio County Schools had formed the plan to hold these clinics weeks ago, but time constraints and the lowered age range not occurring until Thursday pushed the clinics back to Monday.

“We did these in the evening, so maybe someone who couldn’t get to the vaccine center in The Highlands can get there now. They’re more than welcome to come in now and we’ll get them vaccinated,” he said. “It’s relatively easy, so hopefully we’ll get a good number of kids vaccinated. There’s a new group starting to be protected, and hopefully limiting disease even more.”

Meanwhile, the Rev. Darrell Cummings, pastor at Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, announced a drive-thru vaccination clinic from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 22 at the North Wheeling Community Dream Center parking lot at 407 Main St., Wheeling. The clinic will be open to tri-state residents ages 12 and older, and no rules of residency will be required.

Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a guardian and be able to provide consent and approval. The clinic, along with the West Virginia National Guard, will provide more than one type of vaccine. Attendees can request either the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the two-shot Pfizer.

Each attendee will need to provide their information that day prior to the administration of the shot. They will also need to sign a consent release form. Those with insurance should be covered by it, others will be covered by the State. The vaccine is free to all.

The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department reported seven new positive COVID-19 cases in its Friday night update, bringing the county’s totals to 4,407 cases and 90 related deaths since the pandemic began.

The Marshall County Health Department reported five new confirmed positive cases and one probable case in its Friday night update. The county is sending people to the Department of Health and Human Resources website for its latest totals, which were 2,528 confirmed positive cases, 949 probable cases and 77 related deaths.

Brooke and Ohio counties were green on the Friday DHHR COVID-19 alert map, while Hancock County was yellow and Marshall County was orange.