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Mass clinic

Memorial Health System launches mass vaccination clinic

Photos by Janelle Patterson The first mass vaccination clinic with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine against coronavirus in Marietta was held Saturday at the Memorial Health System Wayne Street Medical Campus.

Snaking around the Wayne Street medical campus, close to the Ohio River, more than 1,400 individuals in their vehicles were vaccinated Saturday in Marietta’s first mass-vaccination clinic with the Johnson and Johnson single-dose innoculation from coronavirus.

At the entrance to the campus, across the street from Memorial Health System’s laboratory where many get their bloodwork done, greeters welcomed those with appointments and filed them into the two lanes, wrapping around the hillside parking lot.

“I love working that spot down there because you get to greet everybody at the entrance and talk them through what’s coming,” said Pamela Newell, director of primary care, clinic operations.

She described her favorite moment so far, as the health system has worked through clinics (at 475 vaccinations adminitered per clinic Thursday and Friday). She detailed the visit of as one elderly woman who came through the line.

“And she was saying that she hadn’t been out of the house in a year,” Newell described, looking down the hill. “Here, you’re really able to be a big part of this community and get the community back their lives.”

The line Saturday kept moving, with name confirmation at building 300, then a few feet later registration with the assignment of a paper sheet before driving around the bend.

A PEEK IN LINE

A woman wearing a “cuddle weather’ pullover greets a couple in a car with West Virginia plates checking in the pair with a laptop in hand.

She checks the names and dates of birth, then passes them along to two women with mobile standing tables before the bend.

On the tables are milk crates with hanging file folders, and out of the folders the ladies pull the patient information and hand it to each registered participant.

Turning left, the vehicles are directed into the right or left lane at the top of the hill, passing by building 302.

“The person up there will help you with the paperwork,” says a woman in a reflective vest, directing traffic to the beat of an airport ground crew, and marshalling multiple volunteers and staff to surround vehicles with more than one patient.

In one vehicle, all four windows roll down to be greeted by four Memorial Health System staff.

“Are you feeling sick today? Have you received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine? Have you had a severe reaction that requires an Epi-Pen or hospitalization? What are your allergies; food, pets, environmental?”

The first few questions are to determine if the patient is able to receive the Johnson and Johnson (if a dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine has already been administered, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not mixing different vaccinations for coronavirus).

“Have you received any other vaccines in the last 14 days?”

There is a recommended wait time between getting an influenza vaccine and a coronavirus vaccine.

“Do you have a weakened immune system caused by something like HIV, cancer, immunosuppresent drugs or therapies? Do you have a bleeding disorder or are taking a blood thinner?”

The questions are similar to intake at most clinics, just this round is through the car window with both the questioner and one questioned wearing masks.

“Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?” the questioner asks. “Do you have dermal fillers like Botox? And are you a hospital employee?”

If there are any flags, the questioner adds a sticky-note to the windshield indicating a longer observation time.

Then, after the conclusion of the questionaire, two signatures at the bottom send the vehicle and its occupants along their way to turn right at the edge of building 304, now facing a tent space where at one time four vehicles can be parked at once for the needle prick in the arm.

They ask each vehicle to settle in park for the duration of the vaccine administration, for the safety of the staff and volunteers.

Then, the nurse receives that paperwork, and asks a few follow-up questions following date-of-birth verification if any red flags were raised.

“What kind of reaction do you have to medications?,” she asks. “Oh, right. We’re gonna have to watch you for 30 minutes.”

Then, for those wanting to, she lets them film the needle prick.

“Relax your arm down,” says the nurse. “One, two, three.”

She pinches the upper arm between gloved fingers, with needle in the other hand.

“It’s gonna feel a little cold,” she says as the pinch becomes slightly sharper.

Then, thumb on the spot, she adds pressure.

“All done,” she says, adding a Band-Aid.

Then, she keeps the registration paper, and indicates that a vaccination card with the CDC’s official insignia will be handed over while waiting in line around the bend and the backside of building 306.

“You’re fully vaccinated, just keep an eye on it and for flu-like symptoms the first 24- to 48 hours. Fever, body aches, headache,” she explains. “Move your arm around, drink lots of fluid for the next few days to help reduce the symptoms.

Behind building 306, another individual walks to the window, handing over that vaccination card along with a three-page question -and-answer sheet and a singular sheet from the CDC asking for survey participation.

“So what we’ll have you do is I’ll have you pull forward behind that car in front of you, if you start to feel sick, lay on the horn,” he says.

In all, 12 minutes from the time of registration to awaiting final release for most of the vehicles around the lot.

Then, Saturday, Dr. John Lee did the final checks.

“What reactions did you have to the medications?” he queries, “Ok, so as soon as this car progresses just go park by the light pole, and I’ll come check on you.”

With an extra 15-minute wait, another 15 cars exited, vaccinated.

Janelle Patterson may be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com.

Get Your Shot

Marietta Mass Vaccination Clinic Schedule:

¯ When:

¯ Thursdays: 5-8 p.m.

¯ Saturdays: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

¯ How to sign up:

¯ Book online at www.gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov. (Enter ZIP code 45714 or 45750 in the search bar.)

¯ Book by phone at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634); or for those without access to the internet or in need of assistance in scheduling an appointment for the vaccination, call 740-373-5892.

Managed by: Memorial Health System, with support from the Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

Learn more: Visit www.mhsystem.org/coronavirus/ or call 1-844-877-4148.

Southeast Ohio Mobile Clinic:

This mobile clinic operated by Ohio University will visit various sites in southeast Ohio.

¯ Meigs County: Racine Methodist Church, 818 Elm St., Racine; Tuesdays: April 13, April 27 and May 11.

¯ Morgan County:

¯ Morgan West Elementary School, 9675 West State Route 37, Malta; Saturdays: April 10, April 24.

¯ Heck Harkins Community Center, 1685 Broadway St., Stockport; Thursdays: May 6 and May 20.

Sources: Ohio Department of Health, Memorial Health System and the Washington County Health Department.

COVID-19, Ohio and

Washington County

Washington County has 4,986 COVID-19 cases, 196 hospitalizations, and 105 deaths to date.

Marietta/Belpre Health Department and Washington County Health Department are currently monitoring 129 active cases.

According to the Public Health Advisory Alert System, Washington County remains at Alert Level 3 (Red) with high incidence.

According to the Ohio Department of Health Vaccination Dashboard, 27.37 percent of Washington County residents and 30.55 percent of Ohioans received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 16.47 percent of Washington County residents and 17.76 percent of Ohioans received all CDC recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Washington County is in Region 8 of the key measures tracking for ODH, which has an estimated new caseload over the last two weeks 11.9 percent of the population across Belmont, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble and Perry counties included in the measurement, too.

The statewide average as of Friday was 7.3 percent.

Last week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the state will begin working with local colleges and universities to offer vaccination clinics on campuses. The goal is to offer on-campus clinics to all of Ohio’s college students before the school year ends.

DeWine also announced that Ohio will begin working with employers to offer workplace vaccination clinics. Beginning the week of April 12, vaccine providers can allot up to 25 percent of their vaccine allocation to be used to vaccinate their own employees or to partner with local employers, labor unions and organizations to vaccinate their employees at their work locations.

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