WILMINGTON — The Clinton County Health District partnered with the Clinton County Board of Developmental Disabilities (BODD) on Dec. 30 to provide COVID-19 immunizations to Ohio’s Phase 1A organizations within Clinton County.

Ohio’s Phase 1A vaccine priority group includes healthcare workers that provide direct patient care and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) responders along with those people with intellectual disabilities and those with mental illness, who live in group homes or centers and staff/volunteers at those locations.

Hospital personnel and Long-Term-Care facilities are vaccinated are also included in Phase 1A but are vaccinated through programs outside of local health districts.

These immunizations took place at the Nike Center in what local health officials call a Closed POD, or Point of Dispensing. These PODs are called “Closed” because they are only used for specific populations like those in Ohio’s Phase 1A and are not open to the general public.

This Closed POD was used as a hands-on opportunity to train POD workers in the process of implementing a Closed POD which will prepare those workers, and our community, for larger mass vaccination efforts yet to come this spring.

Workers who trained at this Closed POD included Clinton County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers, Board of Health(BOH) Officials, Board of Developmental Disabilities(BODD) Officials and the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) alongside Clinton County Health District staff members.

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is comprised of citizen volunteers, primarily those with a medical licensure that allows them to perform vaccinations.

Several retired Clinton County registered nurses (RN) have joined the MRC to serve the citizens of Clinton County including: Sally Buchanan, Kathy Dye, Pat King and Marsha Wagstaff.

Susan Jacobs, RN with the BODD, and the Clinton County Board of Health physician Janet Gick. MD, have joined this group of MRC volunteers as well.

“I am thrilled to watch this up swell in community engagement to serve the citizens of Clinton County,” said Pamela Walker-Bauer, Health Commissioner. “My heart is full watching the community come together to serve.”

Kyle Lewis, Clinton County BODD Executive Director, said, “We are excited to support vaccination efforts for our Individuals, Staff and Volunteers, as well as other members of our community.”

A second Closed POD event will be held next week to continue to vaccinate Phase 1A Clinton County organizations. This will allow another opportunity to train for those groups mentioned previously mentioned along with some officials from the Clinton County Board of Commissioners. Again, this will be a Closed POD that is not open to the general public only those in Ohio’s Phase 1A.

To learn more about Ohio’s Phase 1A vaccine eligibility and COVID-19, visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov .

If your Clinton County organization falls under Ohio’s Phase 1A parameters and is seeking vaccine eligibility, complete the following vaccine priority survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZTX2LQX .

Janet Gick, MD, is an MRC volunteer and serves as the Clinton County Board of Health physician. Local county boards of health are required to have a licensed physician serving as one of their members under the Ohio Revised Code.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/01/web1_Dr.-Gick.jpgJanet Gick, MD, is an MRC volunteer and serves as the Clinton County Board of Health physician. Local county boards of health are required to have a licensed physician serving as one of their members under the Ohio Revised Code.

Pat King, RN, is a retired registered nurse who reinstated her RN licensure to serve the citizens of Clinton County for the COVID-19 mass vaccination effort. She is seen here monitoring individuals after they have received their immunization. Individuals must be observed for at least 15 minutes after vaccination to ensure there is no allergic reaction. Epinephrene is available at each clinic to be administered should such a reaction occur.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/01/web1_Pat-King.jpgPat King, RN, is a retired registered nurse who reinstated her RN licensure to serve the citizens of Clinton County for the COVID-19 mass vaccination effort. She is seen here monitoring individuals after they have received their immunization. Individuals must be observed for at least 15 minutes after vaccination to ensure there is no allergic reaction. Epinephrene is available at each clinic to be administered should such a reaction occur.

Chester Township Fire & EMS Assistant Chief Scott Flynn is vaccinated by Susan Jacobs, RN. Susan is the registered nurse for the Board of Developmental Disabilities and is an MRC volunteer.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/01/web1_Scott-Flynn.jpgChester Township Fire & EMS Assistant Chief Scott Flynn is vaccinated by Susan Jacobs, RN. Susan is the registered nurse for the Board of Developmental Disabilities and is an MRC volunteer.

Marsha Wagstaff, RN, a Clinton County Medical Reserve Corps volunteer, is a retired registered nurse and was once the CCHD Bioterrorism Coordinator (now called Emergency Response Coordinator). She is shown vaccinating Ross Wagstaff, DDS, a Clinton County dentist — who happens to be her son.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/01/web1_Marsha-Wagstaff-Ross.jpgMarsha Wagstaff, RN, a Clinton County Medical Reserve Corps volunteer, is a retired registered nurse and was once the CCHD Bioterrorism Coordinator (now called Emergency Response Coordinator). She is shown vaccinating Ross Wagstaff, DDS, a Clinton County dentist — who happens to be her son.