Photos Provided MARTINS FERRY Police Chief John McFarland receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday at East Ohio Regional Hospital from Pharmacy Director Zack Elerick.

MARTINS FERRY — Dozens of first responders received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week, thanks to East Ohio Regional Hospital.

Though the hospital is not open to the public for business yet, it offered Belmont County first responders the opportunity to receive their first dose of a vaccine that was developed to prevent people from contracting the coronavirus.

The hospital is expected to administer the second and final doses to those responders in about 28 days.

“What an amazing day at EORH,” the hospital posted on its Facebook page. “We are so grateful for our first responders and happy that we could do our part to assist them in the fight against COVID-19.

“We administered 115 doses of the vaccine today to fire, EMS, and law enforcement. We thank them all for their service to our communities and look forward to working with them for years to come.”

The hospital decided to reach out to agencies in the county after learning that some deputies with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department and others had not received their first dose of the vaccine yet.

Among those who received the vaccine Thursday was Martins Ferry police Chief John McFarland.

McFarland said he wanted to get the vaccine to protect himself and the people he interacts with.

“By now, everyone knows someone who has or has had COVID. I currently have two family members who are COVID positive. … I know the struggles they are dealing with. It really is a domino effect that trickles down when the health department does contact tracing,” McFarland said.

“People have to be quarantined because maybe they were in contact with someone who was in contact with another person who is positive. Each time someone has to be quarantined, they are missing work, possibly missing income, and leaving their employers with the task of filling those spots.

“COVID has taken a toll on us all, physically, mentally and emotionally. I want to do what I can to keep myself, and those I am in contact with, safe from this very contagious virus.” First responders were among the first groups of people to be scheduled to receive the vaccine in the state of Ohio. The state has broken down the population into categories of people who are the most vulnerable to the disease. In addition to first responders, health care workers, nursing home residents and staff and those in other congregate facilities were among the first to be inoculated. The state is preparing to vaccinate the elderly next, beginning with those 80 years old and older next week.