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Getting shots in arms

xt phase in COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and it is an exciting time.

Gov. Mike DeWine continues to expand access, as health departments and other vaccine providers can now give shots to anyone over age 16.

Meanwhile, there are 15 mass vaccination clinics being rolled out. The four mobile vaccination clinics should be on the road soon.

One of the mass clinics will be located in Zanesville, not far from our region. One of the mobile clinics will be based in Steubenville, and health officials say it will be able to travel around the area — including outside of Jefferson County.

According to one media outlet’s estimation, there are more than 1,200 places in Ohio where a person can get his or her vaccine shots. The process is generally quick and fairly painless. Efficient organization means that health departments, hospitals and pharmacies rarely have people waiting in long lines for their shots. Once the vaccine is administered, each patient only needs to wait on site for 15 minutes — time enough to ensure they don’t have a rare but serious allergic reaction that needs to be treated by health care professionals.

And yet, how many of us know someone who is in an age group or fits other criteria that means they should have gotten their first, maybe even second shot already, but they have not?

How many of us are still hearing fear and conspiracy theories, concerns based on misinformation, or even frustration from those who say they do not know how to get an appointment?

We still have work to do. If you know someone who is having trouble making an appointment, help them. Show them how to use the websites, or find the phone numbers.

If you know someone who is worried about making their appointment and getting vaccinated, talk to them. Give them the facts, or provide resources they can turn to in order to learn more. If you have had the shot yourself, tell them about your own experience.

Let’s do what it takes to build immunity and stop the virus.

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