CINCINNATI – Jill Threm felt she was winning the lottery on Thursday.
That was when she and other Ohioians 50 years of age or older were eligible to register for a vaccine against COVID-19. He was lucky and was able to get an appointment quickly despite fierce competition for limited supply.
“I keep shaking because I was so excited,” she told WCPO.
But the spots fill up quickly, especially on a day when an estimated 1.4 million more Ohioans were chosen for the vaccine, making the total number of people who can register at all the state is about 2.2 million.
In addition to people over 50, Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered that a number of other essential workers and high-risk populations also be able to sign up for an appointment. This week the state launched an online tool to determine if a person is eligible.
Each week, Ohio distributes about 500,000 doses of vaccine to health and private clinics and pharmacies across the state, according to epidemiologist Stephanie Courtney, with the Cincinnati Department of Health.
He said Thursday it is likely too late to make an appointment this week, but the Ohio Department of Health plans to administer approximately 10,000 doses at the Cintas Center later next week.
The new eligibility level 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; others will vaccinate anyone working in Ohio, even if they live outside the state,” Courtney said.
The Cincinnati Department of Health limited its distribution to people living or working 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 eligible county workers and residents can register and receive notification when appointments are made in your area.
The app will also notify users when an emerging vaccination site appears that day.
Apple users can download the app here. Android users can do it here.
Courtney added that other counties across Ohio have been giving a hand as long as the patient lives in the state.
Courtney recommends trying the following steps when booking an appointment:
- Call your doctor or pharmacy directly to see if they have appointments available
- Register through Kroger
- Register through your local or county health department
Courtney also gave privileged advice to the people of Hamilton County: Every Wednesday, the Cincinnati Department of Health finds out how many doses it will receive from the state. He said this means that in those days there are usually more open appointments.
The Cincinnati Department of Health can be reached by phone at 513-352-2927.