FINDLAY, Ohio — As COVID-19 concerns continue into the new year, Hancock County health leaders want to make sure it's easy for people to get vaccinated or boosted.
Hancock Public Health reports the county sits at a medium COVID-19 community spread, as of Tuesday. And, the county is on the back end of a spike in flu cases.
So, the health department has combined its COVID and flu vaccine clinics into one weekly clinic on Fridays from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. No pre-registration is necessary.
Shannon Chamberlin, director of nursing at Hancock Public Health, said the consolidation of clinics came from concerns that community members, especially older people, had a difficult time scheduling appointments at pharmacies online.
The in-person option alleviates this issue, Hancock County Health Commissioner Karim Baroudi said.
"We want to make it convenient to come and talk to our nurses, get the proper advice and get the vaccine," Baroudi said. "We want to make it easy for them. Easy access, that's what we're all about."
Although the county is currently on a downswing of both COVID and flu cases, Baroudi said airborne illnesses almost always spike again following the holidays.
Anyone susceptible to more dangerous side effects of either illness should get vaccinated. Those already vaccinated should make sure they're up to date on their boosters, he said.
"The vaccine is still effective," Baroudi said. And although no COVID-19 vaccines are 100% effective in preventing illness, they do help prevent severe illness, and even death.
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