ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The number of seniors hospitalized with COVID-19 is declining nationwide, but health officials continue the drive to convince younger people to receive the vaccine.

When vaccinations were first made available, Ohio’s vulnerable senior citizens were prioritized along with front-line health care workers and other essential professionals. Belmont County Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul had 800 second doses ready at Thursday’s vaccination clinic at the Ohio Valley Mall, and 300 first doses available. He mentioned, though, that the number of people choosing to be vaccinated with the first dose has decreased.

“We are seeing school-age kids and families around the county, non-specific in age or location, on the positives (test results),” he texted.

Among those currently in isolation with an active case or hospitalized, Sproul said the oldest is 94 and the youngest a 1-year-old. Sproul said the child is not hospitalized but isolated at home with parents, experiencing flu-like symptoms. Sproul said this is not the youngest local person to become ill, with a 6-month-old contracting the virus at one point.

Sproul said those hospitalized range from 41 to 94 and are “pretty evenly spread out” in terms of age.

Sproul said 98 people received a first dose Thursday. Sproul also said the vaccination clinic held Wednesday at the Salvation Army in Bellaire resulted in only five people receiving vaccinations.

“Very disappointing numbers,” Sproul said in a text message.

At the Salvation Army, Maj. Louis Patrick said he had not been aware the clinic had been set up and had little communication with the health department after the initial talk weeks ago. He did not receive inquiries from the public.

“No one really talked about it at all,” Patrick said.

However, Patrick added that Southeast Healthcare of St.Clairsville held a vaccination clinic at the site April 14. Another one begins at 9 a.m. Monday, with the Moderna version of the vaccine available

“We had over 70 people that day, when they came down, so we had a very good turnout. I don’t know how many they’re going to get this time,” Patrick said.

For more information or to schedule a vaccination, call 740-695-7717 or 740-298-2649. Walk-ins are also accepted. The Salvation Army is located at 315 37th St., Bellaire.

Sproul said 76 doses were administered Wednesday at a clinic at Bellaire High School for students, staff and their families.

He said the clinic set for April 29 at the Ohio Valley Mall has 740 second doses scheduled, and there will be walk-ins accepted from 4-5:30 p.m. for anyone wishing to get the first shot.

Sproul said there have been 5,991 total confirmed cases in Belmont County since the pandemic’s onset, with 282 people in isolation at home with active cases or hospitalized. There have been 5,593 recoveries and 116 people died after contracting the virus.