Health Departments Shifting to Local COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics as Regional Clinics Wrap Up in Marshall County
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MOUNDSVILLE -- Hundreds came to the Marshall County Fairgrounds for their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Friday, while future patients will have different options for receiving theirs as county health departments shift toward more local partnerships.
Around 400 doses were scheduled to be given out Friday at the regional clinic for Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and Tyler counties, which was the second and final regional clinic among the area's health departments. Wheeling-Ohio County Health Administrator Howard Gamble said the counties would focus their individual efforts more locally going forward, which would reduce travel time for those who need their shots.
Gamble said that while the regional clinics would return in a few weeks to deliver second doses to those who got their first doses this month, future efforts would stay local.
"The partners, whether they be the health departments, hospitals, clinics, partner together to hold vaccination programs, and that's what we'll start next week, is more county level, rather than having someone travel," Gamble said.
"Next week, we're looking to announce a different venue, as clinics are getting bigger, because we have more vaccine coming in, and more people who need to be vaccinated. When you get a lot of doses, after a while, that's a lot of people going into the city-county building."
Gamble said the county's partners would announce the location of their new clinic next week.
"We'll have a place for people of Ohio County can come together and get vaccinated, make it a one-stop shop. ... We think that'll work a whole lot better."
Gamble said Wheeling Hospital, the county health department, the office of emergency management, and Wheeling Health Right were working together as the big players in organizing the clinic.
"Each one of them will bring a whole bunch of different players into the clinics: volunteers, extra staff that have come out of retirement, temporary staff, students. Each one will bring a whole new group of people than you'd usually see in an individual setting."
Marshall County Threat Preparedness Director Mark Ackermann said Friday's clinic had gone swimmingly, but the county was ready to take local action going forward.
"So many community partners have come out for this today, and the folks who have come in are so appreciative and want to get their vaccine," Ackermann said. "We'll still be here, and as the state sends us vaccine, we'll be getting folks on those lists and getting folks their shots."
Marshall County's partnerships include WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital and Moundsville Pharmacy.