ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The county has been paying attention to central and riverside access to COVID-19 vaccines. On Tuesday, the Belmont County Health Department held clinics in Powhatan Point and Shadyside.

Caroline Campbell was one Shadyside residents receiving a vaccination at the community hall.

“I had COVID and I thought I had antibodies built up … but I thought I’d get the shot anyhow because everyone else was getting them,” she said. “(The past year has been) not bad for me. We didn’t go far.”

“We’ve had a good day,” Nicki Papp, one of the registered nurses attending the clinic, said, adding about 10 people were vaccinated in Powhatan Point, and five people in the first half hour of the Shadyside clinic.

“It’s not been a bad turnout. It’s been pretty good. … A lot of second doses today,” travel nurse Tonya Sheroan with ProLink Staffing Agency said.

They offered the Moderna version, the Pfizer BioNTech version which has been cleared for use on children as young as 12, and the Johnson & Johnson version which only requires one shot instead of the normal two shots about 28 days apart, but its use was briefly discontinued when several people developed blood platelet issues and died after vaccination.

“We’re getting doses again. For a little while it was hard to get some of those doses,” Papp said.

Papp and Sheroan added there have been a variety of ages among those opting for the vaccine.

Sheroan said she has enjoyed her time working with Belmont County Health Department staff and county residents. She will be working at the county until June 30.

“Everybody’s been super-nice and helpful, especially at the health department. I have no complaints about this contract. It’s a very safe area and it’s just very nice,” Sheroan said.

Vaccines were also offered Wednesday at a walk-in clinic at the department location at 68501 Bannock Uniontown Road, St. Clairsville.

There will be a clinic 2-4 p.m. today at the Rock Hill community center in Bellaire and 2-7 p.m. at the board of health office.

Vaccines will also be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday at the Ohio Valley Mall community room.

Like many other counties’ departments, the Belmont County Health Department utilizes a state-contracted data collection company to contact-trace new COVID-19 cases, but has resumed providing daily COVID-19 case updates, with a total of 6,422 cases as of Wednesday, with 6,211 recoveries and 93 people isolated with active cases or hospitalized. Belmont County’s number of COVID-19 related deaths has been recalibrated to 118, prior to the state’s reporting of 174 from coronavirus.ohio.gov.

Jefferson County has had a total of 5,664 cases, with 5,485 recoveries and 156 people have died after being infected with the virus.

Harrison County has had a total of 1,136 cases, with 1,074 recoveries and 37 deaths related to coronavirus.

Monroe County has had a total of 1,358 cases, with 1,290 recoveries and 44 deaths related to the virus.