T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Garen Rhome, administrator of the Harrison County Health Department, speaks about the county’s COVID-19 cases Wednesday morning.

CADIZ — Harrison County residents who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine and are interested in doing so can attend an open clinic Friday.

Garen Rhome, administrator of the county’s health department, said the department is offering another option for residents to become vaccinated — a clinic where “walk-ins” are welcome. He said the clinic will actually be a drive-through event where adult residents can drive up and receive their vaccination without an appointment.

“We’re at the point where we can say that we can manage the amount of people and the amount of vaccines. We understand we’ve moved past the folks who urgently sought the vaccine, who wanted to get out there and get it. We’re now into the people who are interested in it but are only going to do it when it’s convenient,” he said.

The health department will administer around 200 shots during the clinic, but around 150 will be second doses. That leaves around 50 first doses for those who would like to attend. Those eligible for the Moderna vaccine clinic include residents age 18 and older and those who have never experienced an allergic reaction to anything that required rescue with Epinephrine. Health department staff will help those residents find an alternative clinic to attend.

The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Wallace Lodge at Sally Buffalo Park in Cadiz.

“We’re really trying to find the niche to make things more convenient now that we’ve moved through 4,500 first doses,” he said. The county has provided around 4,500 first doses and 3,500 second doses to residents to date. Those numbers include vaccines administered by all providers in the county.

Commissioner Don Bethel asked Rhome for recommendations for those who receive the vaccine and experience mild symptoms such as a sore injection site. Rhome said nurses recommend making sure you are as relaxed as possible when receiving the shot. He said the following day people should make sure to perform plenty of movement.

“As long as you’re not feeling tired and achy, make sure you get some exercise,” he added.

Report any severe reactions experienced to the health department or the hospital — the place where the vaccine was administered.

Rhome also spoke about the county’s status on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System. While the county recently moved to risk Level 1, or yellow, on the color-coded map, Rhome said there is a chance it will move back to Level 2, or orange, this week. He said there have been 10 new cases reported in the past week, which may flag another indicator on the map.

Last week, the county only flagged one of the seven indicators — having a percentage of cases in non-congregate settings — allowing it to move from Level 2 to the less serious Level 1.

“All of our cases in recent times are from the community, they’re not in congregate settings. It’s a way of saying that we don’t have any outbreaks in long-term care facilities or congregate settings,” he said.

Rhome said officials will have to wait to see when the reports are released later today.

“Some of the cases could fall off of the 14-day period,” he said.

The advisory system is meant to keep residents informed of the degree of spread in the area, Rhome said. He continues to urge residents to follow mitigation efforts and get vaccinated.

As of Wednesday, the county has a total of 1,076 confirmed cases, 1,042 recoveries and 24 deaths. There are currently 10 active cases in the county.