NEW CARLISLE — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine touted the importance of bringing the COVID-19 vaccine to the people of the state, something now happening at senior living communities and soon to happen at college campuses next week.
The Governor stopped in Clark County Friday morning, a county that tops the state chart for worst spread of COVID-19 in a county. But, the county also is above the state average in getting shots into the arms of residents.
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“It really is a race in Clark County. It’s a race in the Miami Valley,” DeWine said. “This variant is rising in Ohio.”
DeWine said it is “a little surprising” that Clark County tops the cases per capita list, but says getting the vaccines done will matter in the long run.
DeWine visited the New Carlisle Senior Living on Sunrise Terrace as part of ongoing tours at vaccination sites through the state. It’s a senior community, where the state and health departments are bringing the vaccine to the people.
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“The vaccination is coming right to them,” DeWine said. “It’s very very convenient for them.”
DeWine said by bringing the vaccine to people, it increases the likelihood people will get a shot.
Convenience is also key in the state’s plan to begin holding on-campus vaccine clinics at Miami Valley college campuses beginning next week.
College campuses in the Miami Valley that have joined the state’s program include Wright State, Cedarville, Wilberforce, Central State, Wittenberg and the University of Dayton, DeWine said
“In most cases it will be the one-shot Johnson & Johnson,” DeWine said. “We know that they are big spreaders because they interact socially.”
DeWine said the state has seen some of the hotspots in the state coming from college campuses, including one at Cedarville University, which has put the Cedarville zip code in the top ten worst spots for COVID spread.
The goal, the get students vaccinated and immunity built before they leave campuses for the summer.
“Those students that are going home on May 1st won’t be able to spread it when they go home,” DeWine said.
DeWine’s visit to Clark County was the first of three tours on the day, with the governor also visiting vaccination centers in Lima and Ada later in the day.
DeWine was in Dayton Thursday at the mass vaccination clinic at the Dayton Convention Center where he gave his first and only COVID-19 briefing this week.
The governor made several announcements during Thursday’s news conference including the increase of cases across the state and the presence of COVID variants that have been part of rise in cases.
Cox Media Group
