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