COVID-19 Vaccinations

Southeastern Med will begin providing COVID-19 vaccines to patients who are 80 years of age and older on Saturday, January 23, in accordance with guidance from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health, and in collaboration with the Guernsey County Department of Health and Muskingum Valley Health Centers.

The first vaccinations will be given starting January 23 in the Morrison Room, located in the front lobby of Southeastern Med at 1341 Clark Street. Walk-in appointments will not be accepted. Only those individuals who have pre-registered for a vaccination by calling 740.435.COVI will be vaccinated. Appointments will be scheduled subject to vaccine availability.

Beginning on February 15: Ohioans born with or who have early childhood conditions that are carried into adulthood, which put them at a higher risk for adverse outcomes due to COVID-19, are eligible for vaccination under Ohio’s Vaccination Program Phase 1B.

• Cystic fibrosis.
• Muscular dystrophy.
• Cerebral palsy.
• Spina bifida.
• People born with severe heart defects, requiring regular specialized medical care.
• People with severe type 1 diabetes, who have been hospitalized for this in the past year.
• Phenylketonuria (PKU), Tay-Sachs, and other rare, inherited metabolic disorders.
• Epilepsy with continuing seizures; hydrocephaly; microcephaly, and other severe neurological disorders.
• Turner syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and other severe genetic disorders.
• People with severe asthma, who have been hospitalized for this in the past year.
• Alpha and beta thalassemia.
• Solid organ transplant candidates and recipients.

If you do not meet the current requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations, please check back in the future for a date you can schedule.

Effective March 4, 2021, tier 1C will be able to be vaccinated. Those eligible includeOhioans at increased risk for serious illness from COVID-19 disease due to medical conditions, as well as others in certain occupations.

Who may be vaccinated during Phase 1C?

Vaccinations for Phase 1C will begin on Thursday, March 4, 2021. This phase will focus on:

• Individuals who have specified medical conditions (listed below) that may increase their risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. The new qualifying conditions are not already covered through Ohio’s age-based approach to vaccine eligibility.
• Ohioans who work in certain occupations, including child care services, funeral services, and law enforcement and correction services.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT

Approximately 141,000 Ohioans with the following conditions will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

• People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
  • Bone marrow transplant recipients. o These are sometimes also called hematopoietic cell or stem cell transplants, and these patients are undergoing treatment primarily for cancer and certain anemias, and they face an increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness.
  • o This group does NOT include the kind of stem-cell injections people might receive for the treatment of orthopedic problems, especially for their knees.
  • People with type 1 diabetes.
  • Pregnant women.

OCCUPATIONS

• Child care services: Staff members at child care centers and pre-kindergarten programs who have regular, ongoing direct contact with children enrolled in these programs will be eligible. There are approximately 40,400 Ohioans eligible in this category. o Administrators, lead and assistant teachers, and substitute teachers enrolled in Ohio’s Professional Registry who are currently working in open child care or pre-kindergarten programs.
• Licensing specialists employed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services or a county job and family services agency.
• The program does NOT include parent volunteers, board members, or owners/administrators who do not provide in-classroom support.
• Funeral services: This group includes licensed staff, and active apprentices in the funeral services industry. There are approximately 3,600 Ohioans eligible in this category. o Embalmers/morticians.
•  Funeral home directors.
• Crematory operators.
• Apprentices.
• Law enforcement and corrections officers: There are approximately 76,000 Ohioans eligible in this category. o This group includes sworn law enforcement officers and peace officers who have first responder or direct supervisory responsibilities. These individuals must be active duty, working a regular minimum of 20 hours a week. Examples of included individuals:
• Police officers.
• Sheriff’s deputies.
• Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers.
•  Special jurisdiction officers: Other state or federal enforcement officers such as Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) enforcement staff, pharmacy board investigators, BCI agents, state firemarshal investigators, federal transportation security officers, and other federal law enforcement officers who do not have access to vaccination from federal sources
• Corrections staff: Eligibility includes corrections staff, including probation and parole staff, who provide direct services to an adult or juvenile inmate or court-supervised individual. This includes staff in privately run settings.
• Firefighters: Individuals who have a valid active firefighting certificate in the State of Ohio who are active members or employees of a recognized fire department. This does not include retired, emeritus, or reserve individuals.

Ohio is expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine as supply is increasing, and as vaccinations for previously defined priority populations continue. The next phase of eligibility, beginning March 4, 2021, includes expanded eligibility for Ohioans based upon age. Because the risk of more severe reactions and outcomes of COVID-19 increases with age, Phase 2 will begin with individuals age 60 and older.

Phase 2

This group includes approximately 695,000 eligible Ohioans. Eligible individuals can receive a vaccine from the provider of their choice.

AGE ELIGIBILITY

• Individuals age 60 and older

What to Expect at Your Vaccination Appointment

Please bring your photo ID the day of your vaccination and wear clothing that is short sleeved or loose enough to be pulled up to your shoulder on the arm you want your vaccine in.

There is no cost to receive the vaccination.

To maintain social distancing and keep everyone safe, we have the following requests:

• Please plan on arriving 5 minutes before your scheduled vaccination time. If you arrive earlier, please remain in your car.
• No one will be permitted to come inside the hospital with you unless they are receiving their vaccination at the same scheduled time or if they are required to assist with your mobility and care.
• All who come into the hospital will be screened for symptoms of COVID and will be given a mask.
• Please do not come to receive your vaccination if you are sick.

If you arrive late to your vaccination time, you will probably not be able to receive the vaccination that day.  Due to the storage requirements of the vaccination and the expected high volume of recipients, times cannot be altered.  You will need to call 740-435-COVI to reschedule.

Once you receive the vaccination, you will be required to remain and be monitored for 15 minutes.  If you have had an anaphylactic reaction (throat or tongue swelling, difficulty breathing) in the past to anything, you will be required to be monitored for 30 minutes.  Please let the person administering your vaccine know if you have had an anaphylactic reaction in the past. Be prepared to leave immediately after your monitoring period so we can adhere to social distancing requirements and keep everyone safe.

You will be receiving the Moderna Vaccine.  This is a 2-part vaccination series.  You will receive a date and time for your second vaccination the same day you receive your initial vaccine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can get the vaccine and when?

A: Southeastern Med is following the Ohio Department of Health’s guidelines to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to the most vulnerable community members first.

• January 23^rd for those 80 years and older
• January 30^th for those 75 years and older and adults 18 and older with the following disorders: cerebral palsy; spina bifida; congenital heart disease; type 1 diabetes; inherited metabolic disorders; severe neurological disorders, including epilepsy; severe genetic disorders, including Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Turner syndrome; severe lung disease, including cystic fibrosis and severe asthma; sickle cell anemia; and alpha and beta thalassemia.
• February 6th for those 70 years and older or K-12 teachers.
• February 13th for those 65 years and older
• If you are in remaining populations, please visit our website at a later date or contact your local health department.

Please call 740-435-COVI if you would like to schedule for your vaccination.

Q: Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe and effective?

A: Yes. Evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and work to prevent COVID-19. Of the first two vaccines to be granted FDA emergency use authorization, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 95% effective and the Moderna vaccine was 94% effective in phase 3 clinical trials with more than 70,000 participants between the two studies. Although the COVID-19 vaccines have been developed recently, the technology used in mRNA vaccines, like those developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, has been studied for decades.  Click here for a video from the CDC on emergency use authorization (EUA).

Q: How does the vaccine work?

A: This is an mRNA vaccine. mRNA gets into the cells and produces a protein, called a spike protein which is on the virus. Your body then develops immunity to that spike protein and helps prevent you from becoming ill.

Q: How many doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be needed? When is the second dose due?

A: Both the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine, which have been granted emergency use authorization, require two doses. Those who receive a dose of a particular vaccine must receive a second dose of the vaccine from the same manufacturer, as they are not interchangeable. You will receive a first dose of the Moderna vaccine at Southeastern Med, your second dose must be the Moderna vaccine, administered 28 days after the first dose.   Click here to read the EUA document from the FDA regarding the Moderna COVID vaccine.

Q: What if the 28-day interval for the second dose is exceeded?

A: The second dose should be administered at the earliest opportunity. Doses would not need to be repeated due to a longer interval, meaning you do not have to start over, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.

Q: What are normal side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine?

A: When you get a COVID-19 vaccine, you can expect mild side effects, including soreness or redness at the injection site. Other common side effects are fever, chills, headache, tiredness, and muscle or joint pain. These side effects are normal as your body creates an immune response to protect you from COVID-19 and may increase with the second dose. Learn more about what to expect in this video from the CDC.

Q: If I’ve had COVID-19, should I still get the vaccine?

A: Yes.  Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. If you were treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies (BAM) or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Q: Is there anyone who should NOT receive the vaccine?

A:  You should not get the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine if you:

• had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine
• had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of this vaccine which includes the following ingredients: messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), lipids (SM-102, polyethylene glycol [PEG] 2000 dimyristoyl glycerol [DMG], cholesterol, and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine [DSPC]), tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate, and sucrose.
• If you have received another vaccination or plan on receiving another vaccination within 14 days.
• If you were treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies (BAM) or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days.

Q: Is it still important to wear a mask and social distance after receiving the vaccine?

A: Yes. Not enough information is currently available to say if or when CDC will stop recommending that people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-world conditions before making that decision. While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions, it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic.

To protect yourself and others, follow these recommendations:

• Wear a mask over your nose and mouth
• Stay at least 6 feet away from others
• Avoid crowds
• Avoid poorly ventilated spaces
• Wash your hands often

Q: How is the vaccine given?

A: It is an injection in the muscle of your arm, just like a flu shot.

Q: Is the vaccine free?

A: Yes, the vaccine is free.

Q: Should I get the vaccine if I’m pregnant or might become pregnant or breastfeeding?

A: We recommend that you ask your obstetrician prior to receiving the vaccine.

Q: Will the vaccine interact with any of the medications that I am taking?

A: If you are taking any medication and have concerns, you should consult your primary care provider.

Q: Should my children get vaccinated?

A: At this time, children 18 and younger do not qualify to get the Moderna vaccine.

For more information regarding COVID vaccination, please visit the ODH website by clicking here. or the CDC website by clicking here.