COVID-19 vaccination is available in Athens County, though who can get a shot and where depends on the provider, the Athens County Independent reported on Oct. 29.
The CDC recommends the vaccine for every adult this season and encourages it for children aged 6 months through 17 years who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. Only Moderna is federally approved for children 6 months to 4 years old, according to the report.
Crystal Jones, nursing director at the Athens City-County Health Department, said the agency can vaccinate all clinically eligible people 6 months and older and is taking appointments. Jones said the department follows federal recommendations.
Marcus Thorpe, a public relations consultant for OhioHealth, said in an Oct. 27 email that Athens County physician offices were giving flu shots and expected COVID-19 vaccines for families the following week. OhioHealth had said it would soon offer the shots.
CVS locations on East State Street and Court Street are scheduling vaccinations per CDC guidance; their online notes say some children who are not immunocompromised may qualify through shared clinical decision-making. Shrivers Pharmacy requires online scheduling patients to certify they are at least 65 or are 12 to 64 with an underlying condition. Kroger on East State Street vaccinates clinically eligible adults and children 3 to 12, manager Matt Dubil said.
Walmart on East State Street limits vaccination to people 65 and older or those 6 to 64 with an underlying condition. Hopewell Health Centers Pharmacy in The Plains does not currently offer the vaccine, pharmacist Daniel Young said, and he did not know whether that would change. An employee at TheDrugStore on East State Street said Oct. 27 that its vaccine was out of stock and that shipments were uncertain; the store's minimum age is 13.
Holzer did not answer multiple requests for comment, the Independent reported.