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School Staff Vaccination Event Went Well, Cupp Reports


A total of 789 people, mostly staff members from Fulton County school districts, received Coronavirus vaccinations, Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. Top: Linda Burkholder, a registered nurse with the Fulton County Health Department, reviews paperwork with Stacie Radabaugh, an RN from the Fulton County Health Center. Left: Rachel Finlayson, an FCHC pharmacist, prepares an injection.– photos by David Pugh

A total of 789 people, mostly staff members from Fulton County school districts, received Coronavirus vaccinations, Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. Top: Linda Burkholder, a registered nurse with the Fulton County Health Department, reviews paperwork with Stacie Radabaugh, an RN from the Fulton County Health Center. Left: Rachel Finlayson, an FCHC pharmacist, prepares an injection.– photos by David Pugh

Almost 800 people received vaccinations to protect them from the Coronavirus, Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Fulton County Fairgrounds.

Kim Cupp, Fulton County Health Commissioner, said the event went well, with a lot of good feedback.

She said 755 staff members from Fulton County schools received the first shot of the two-shot Pfizer vaccine. Another 34 people– either health care workers or persons 70 and above– were scheduled for vaccination that day.

Ken Boyer, interim Pettisville superintendent, said about 50 staff members received the vaccine. None reported side effects.

He said around 90 employees were eligible.

Similar information from Archbold schools was not immediately available.

Trending Down

Cupp said Fulton County statistics show a decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases. COVID 19 is the illness caused by the Coronavirus.

“The highest weekly total (of new cases) we recorded was between Friday Dec 4… and Friday Dec 11, 2020, at 358,” Cupp said in an email to this newspaper.

 

 

She explained there was an irregularity in reporting between Dec. 30-Jan. 8 due to the holiday schedule. During that nine-day period, 276 new cases were reported.

From Jan. 15-Feb. 19, “there has been a steady decline in the total number of new cases each week, falling from 224 new cases reported on Jan. 15, to 47 new cases on Feb. 19.”

Like the national numbers, Fulton County reported a recent spike in new cases.

Cupp said between Feb. 19-26, there were 51 new cases.

Phase 2

Mike DeWine, Ohio governor, announced on Monday the list of Ohioans eligible for the Coronavirus vaccine has been expanded.

The new list includes those in category 1C, which includes Ohio residents with certain occupations not previously addressed, and medical conditions including type 1 diabetes.

The list also makes vaccines available to those 60 and older.

Persons in those two groups may beging reserving vaccination appointments, tomorrow, Thursday.

Cupp said in Fulton County, officials are still working through the 65-and-above population.

Cupp said in the future, rather than calling the Fulton County Health Department, Fulton County Health Center, or area drug stores for the vaccine, Ohio residents can check https://vaccine. coronavirus.ohio.gov to find a location that is providing the vaccinations and schedule an appointment.

For those not wishing to use a computer, a phone number will be provided.

Cupp said once Fulton County is ready to go to the computer scheduling system, health department officials will begin promoting the change.

Encouraged

Cupp said she is “very encouraged by the number of people seeking to get vaccinated.”

She doesn’t want the county to be in a prolonged trough in the statistics, only to see cases rise again.

“Vaccination is a significant tool that we need to utilize as a community to make it out of the pandemic longterm,” she said.

Vaccination needs to be used with social distancing, mask wearing, good hygiene, and other preventative measures.

People shouldn’t get “too antsy” to quit taking precautions.

“I see the virus as a small flame. If we give it oxygen– individuals to infect– it will rise up again,” she said.

Keeping up good preventative measures, along with a good uptick in vaccinations “is our best opportunity to be on the other side of the pandemic,” Cupp said.

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