DeWine: Don’t hesitate to get vaccinated

Urges more Ohioans to vaccinate during stop in Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN -- Gov. Mike DeWine said he is concerned with the slowdown in the number of Ohioans getting the COVID-19 vaccination.

"The way we get out of this is vaccinating our way out," DeWine said after touring a vaccination clinic Thursday at the Covelli Centre. "It's the only way to get out of it. This virus will continue to circulate in our community."

He added: "I'm concerned because the numbers have gone down" of Ohioans being vaccinated. "Did they go down because of the Johnson & Johnson" vaccine being pulled? "I think in part they did. The uncertainty has spread over into the other vaccines."

DeWine said he's pleased to see the number of COVID-19 cases in the state starting to level off below 2,000 daily during the past six days but warned, "This is a really critical point in time. It is critical because we have a variant out there that's multiplying" and is more deadly.

DeWine urged people to get vaccinated and not to wait because the variant is spreading fast.

"For those who have not been vaccinated, this is probably the most dangerous period of time because of the very active variant that's out there," he said. "If you're not vaccinated, you are very, very vulnerable because of the new variant. People can be lulled into a false sense of security."

Youngstown Health Commissioner Erin Bishop and Ryan Tekac, Mahoning County Public Health commissioner, said they've seen declines in the number of people getting vaccinated in the past few weeks.

The Thursday vaccination clinic at the Covelli Centre offered 500 Moderna inoculations, but a little more than 300 showed up, Bishop said.

"We're definitely seeing a decline in inoculations," she said.

Tekac said today's clinic at the Mahoning Valley's mass vaccination location at the former Dillard's store in the Southern Park Mall, Boardman, has 1,000 vaccinations available, but only 307 appointments were made as of Thursday morning.

To encourage people to get the vaccine, the Minority Community Vaccination Action Group announced Thursday that it is offering free rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination clinics to anyone in Mahoning County.

Residents should call 330-207-3461 to schedule a ride as well as if they need assistance getting a vaccination appointment. People also can call 330-716-2684 or 330-716-2843 to schedule rides to clinics.

dskolnick@vindy.com