ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Gov. Mike DeWine continues to ask Ohio nursing home workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We’ve made nursing homes a priority because over half our deaths in the state of Ohio have occurred in nursing homes. Our goal is to get as many people in nursing homes — residents as well as those who work in nursing homes — the opportunity to take the shot as quickly as they can,” DeWine said.

He said 61 percent of Ohio nursing homes have been visited by those who are administering vaccinations. Several staffers were vaccinated during the governor’s broadcast on Tuesday.

DeWine said about 40 percent of nursing home staff members have opted to take the first shot. He said about 75 percent to 80 percent of residents of those homes have been vaccinated. On Friday, some nursing homes will be visited a second time for a follow-up dose.

Ursel McElroy, director of the Ohio Department of Aging, said nursing home employees have been hesitant for a variety of reasons, including fear of side effects and concerns about the shots’ safety and effectiveness due to the newness of the vaccine.

“We are reasonably concerned that given any refusal or delay of vaccination reduces our goal of widespread compliance, and it compromises our ability to eradicate this virus. We’re hoping to see those numbers climb,” McElroy said, adding that her office is reaching out with expert testimony.

DeWine said statewide, there were close to 1 million people in the 1A vaccination group, which included home health workers, hospice workers, emergency medical service responders, primary care practitioners, free-standing emergency department employees, urgent care site workers, pharmacy workers, dialysis and dental providers, and mobile unit practitioners.

Belmont County Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul announced that his office is beginning Phase 1B of the vaccination effort. People eligible in Phase 1B include Ohioans age 65 and older, those living with severe congenital, developmental or early-onset medical disorders, and adults who work in school systems. Those people can call the Health Department for an appointment at 740-695-1202, ext. 120.

Recipients of the initial shot must receive a second dose in about 28 days.

DeWine said statewide, there are well over 1 million people in the 1B category.

The governor has said he hopes Ohio’s students can resume in-person schooling in March. There are about 300,000 kindergarten through 12th-grade staff eligible for the vaccine.

Belmont County Senior Services Director Dwayne Pielech said his department is not administering the vaccines, but there is considerable enthusiasm among area senior citizens who want to receive the shot.

“We’ve been getting calls at the agency — seniors calling, confused,” Pielech said. “I think there’s some impression out there that we have something to do with coordinating the vaccines, which we don’t. We’re not a medical provider. We don’t do anything like that.”

Sproul said Phase 1B vaccines will be administered by appointment only next week at the Wise Building at the Belmont County Fairgrounds, located along Roscoe Road west of St. Clairsville.

“Personally, I would encourage a senior to get the vaccination, especially if they have health risk, but really it ends up being a personal decision between them and their family members and their family doctor,” Pielech said.

“As an agency director, we’re still in anticipation of our front-line workers (getting vaccinated). We’ve got workers questioning, ‘When are we going to be able to get the vaccination?’ We haven’t heard anything yet. We like to believe we’re part of the front-line workers. We’re serving 11,00 meals a day,” he said, adding his staff also includes drivers who transport seniors to medical appointments.

Sproul reports that Belmont County has confirmed 3,937 cases of COVID-19 among its residents since the pandemic’s onset. He said 968 people are isolated at home with active cases Tuesday compared to 1,024 on Monday, and 2,857 recoveries Tuesday compared to 2,738 at the beginning of the week. Sproul said 37 people are hospitalized with the virus, and he reported that deaths associated with the virus increased from 73 to 75, with the latest victims being men in their 70s and 60s.