Emily Mills,Betty Lin-Fisher|Akron Beacon Journal
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Editor's Note: This article containedthe most up-to-date information available when it was published, but it may have changed since then as the COVID-19 pandemic and response continue to evolve. For the most up-to-date information, visit beaconjournal.com.
Ohio's first COVID-19 mass vaccination clinicat the Cleveland State University Wolstein Center is prepping to begin giving the shots on Wednesday after a soft launch of a small group on Tuesday.
The first week's appointments filled up quickly, but appointments for the weeks of March 24 and 30 are now available, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said during a news conference on Sunday.
The Cleveland site is supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Biden administration and will serve as an eight-week, seven-day-a-weekfederal mass vaccination clinic. By next Monday, it will have the capacity toadminister 6,000 vaccines a day, DeWine said.
Ohioans 50 and older, as well as other categories based on health conditions and occupations, are now eligible for vaccinations at the mass clinics and pharmacies statewide. To sign up for the mass clinics as well as pharmacy sites, go to gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-427-5634.
Pharmacies with COVID-19 vaccine supplies also continue to make appointments via their own websites and phone numbers.
Akron's Chapel Hill Mall will be one of more than a dozenlong-term COVID-19 mass vaccination sitesexpected to open across Ohio at the end of the month.
Along with Akron's expected drive-through location operated by Summit County Public Health at Chapel Hill Mall, the other state-sponsored mass vaccination clinics will be in Youngstown, Lima, Maumee, Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Marietta, Wilmingtonand Zanesville.
Four mobile mass vaccination clinics — based out of Ada, Athens, Mansfield and Steubenville —will handle vaccinations innorthwestern and west central Ohio,southeastern Ohio, north central Ohio and east central Ohio, respectively.
Any Ohioan who is eligible to receive the vaccine under thestate's vaccination plancan be vaccinated at any of Ohio's mass vaccination clinics. Use the state website gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.govto schedule.
Cuyahoga County is working with its county council to provide free bus passes through RTA to the Cleveland mass clinic site and subsidize ride share services for people who call 2-1-1 and request transportation to the Wolstein site for their vaccination appointment. Other forms of transportation will also be provided, including transportation through the Senior Transportation Center and local churches.
Mass vaccination sites: Here's what we know about COVID-19 mass vaccination sites in Northeast Ohio
Mass vaccination sites: Chapel Hill Mall to serve as COVID-19 mass vaccination site in Akron
StartingMarch 11, eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 vaccinein Ohio enteredPhase 1Dand Phase 2B, which dropped the age limit from 60 and above to50 and above and expanded to thosewith additional specific medical conditions.
Here's the latest on who can get the vaccine and where vaccines are available in Summit County.
Who can get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Phase 1D includes type 2 diabetes and end-stage renal disease. Phase 2B drops the age requirement from 60, which began Thursday, March 4, to 50.
Those who already qualifiedfor the vaccine in previous phases, meaning they can get the vaccine now,include:
- Those with type 1 diabetes
- Pregnant women
- Bone marrow transplant recipients
- Those with Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Law enforcement and corrections officers, including active duty police officers with at least 20 hours of service,probation and parole staff and firefighters with an active certificate. Retired, reserve or “special” forces are not included but volunteer firefightersareincluded.
- Child care services employees, including teachers, administrators and substitutes enrolled in Ohio’s Professional Registry who currently work in child care and pre-kindergarten programs.
- Funeral services employees, including embalmers and morticians, funeral home directors, crematory operators and apprentices.
- Specific conditions that started at birth or childhood, including sickle cell anemia;Down syndrome; cystic fibrosis;muscular dystrophy;cerebral palsy; spina bifida;people born with severe heart defects, requiring regular specialized medical care; people with severe type 1 diabetes, who have been hospitalized for this in the past year; phenylketonuria (PKU), Tay-Sachsand other rare, inherited metabolic disorders; epilepsy with continuing seizures; hydrocephaly,microcephalyand other severe neurological disorders; Turner syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and other severe genetic disorders; people with severe asthma, who have been hospitalized for this in the past year; alpha and beta thalassemia; and solid organ transplant candidates and recipients.
Ohio has prioritized vaccinating the state's older residents, saying age is the best predictor for complications or death from COVID-19.
Butan advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said vaccinating by age groupis inherently unfair to minorities, because they have a lower life expectancy and because people of color are dying of COVID-19 at younger ages than white Americans.
Is there a statewide vaccine registry?
A new statewide online portal where Ohioans can search for COVID-19 vaccine appointments,gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov, launched Monday, March 8.
A statewide list of vaccine providers is available at vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov, searchable by ZIP code or county. The list isn't updated in real time, so people should check with the providers for up-to-date vaccine availability. As of March 8, 1,419locations are listed statewide, including 60 in Summit County.
Those without internet access should contact the Summit County Public Health COVID-19 Call Line at 330-926-5795. Older adults with questions on the vaccination process should contact the Area Agencies on Aging at 866-243-5678 or online at aging.ohio.gov.
Is there a cost for the vaccine?
You shouldn't have to pay any out-of-pocket cost for the vaccine. If you have health insurance, the vaccine provider may bill your insurance company.
CDC: Vaccinated Americans can gather inside without masks or social distancing in certain circ*mstances
Vaccine Q&A: Can I take ibuprofen to prevent vaccine side effects? Your latest COVID-19 questions answered
Where can I get a vaccine in Summit County?
Here is the list of current Summit County vaccine provider locations:
Acme Pharmacy
• 3979 Medina Road, Akron, 330-666-3300
• 3235 Manchester Road, Akron, 330-644-0350
Those seeking a vaccine through Acme should visit acmestores.com and create or update their accounts to get communication about vaccine availability.
AxessPointe
• 1400 S. Arlington St., Suite 38, Akron, 888-975-9188 or 330-564-2477
Appointments are required, and supply is limited. AxessPointe keeps a list of people interested in getting a vaccine and calls them once their phase is reached.
Vaccine clinic: Pop-up clinic brings vaccine to 500 at The House of the Lord in Akron
AxessPointe: Underserved areas targeted for COVID-19 shot in AxessPointe clinic in Akron
Charak Center for Health and Wellness Stow
• 4161 Bridgewater Parkway, Stow, 330-865-4644
The center has a very limited supply of vaccines and appointments and is unsure if it will be getting a weekly supply. Appointments are being taken by phone only.
Cleveland Clinic
my.clevelandclinic.org/landing/covid-19-vaccine/ohio
• Akron General Health and Wellness Center Bath, 4125 Medina Road, 216-444-2538
The Cleveland Clinicallows established patients and nonpatients who are eligible via state guidelines to register and find any available appointments. The Clinic will no longer contact patients directly for appointments.
Those seeking an appointmentstill need to use MyChart. For more information, visitmy.clevelandclinic.org/landing/covid-19-vaccine/ohio.To sign up for MyChart, visit clevelandclinic.org/mychart.
Those without internet access can call216-448-4117 and leave a message.
Discount Drug Mart
• 4044 Fishcreek Road, Stow, 330-688-6140
• 655 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-923-8332
• 5863 Darrow Road, Hudson, 330-342-5500
• 711 Canton Road, Akron, 330-794-1181
• 3100 Glenwood Blvd., Suite 294, Twinsburg, 330-405-6650
Those interested in registering can visit discount-drugmart.com/covid or call the Discount Drug Mart COVID-19 Vaccine Information phone line at 844-625-0843.
Giant Eagle Pharmacy
• 1700 Corporate Woods Parkway, Green, 330-896-9787
• 2687 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-928-8844
• 230 Howe Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-929-6372
• 41 Fifth St. SE, Barberton, 330-861-0849
• 3750 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-668-6605
• 2775 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-836-2036
• 484 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, 330-773-7772
• 2801 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, 330-628-6067
• 4300 Kent Road, Stow, 330-686-9121
• 1700 Norton Road, Stow, 330-650-4093
• 290 E. Aurora Road, Northfield, 330-468-3263
• 205 West Ave., Tallmadge, 330-634-0688
• 8960 Darrow Road, Twinsburg, 330-405-7105
Giant Eagle's online vaccine appointment scheduling tool is at gianteagle.com/covidvaccine. Those without internet access can contact their local Giant Eagle pharmacy to ask about appointment availability.
International Community Health Center- Akron (ICHC-Asian Services in ActionInc.)
• 370 E. Market St., Akron, 234-312-3607
The International Community Health Center, part of Asian Services in ActionInc., has limited doses available via its clinic. To make an appointment, call 234-312-3607.
MAC Pharmacy
• 879 E. Exchange St., Akron, 330-375-5040
The independent pharmacy is working off a waiting list for vaccinations. Those eligible for the vaccine can text a name and date of birth to 440-650-2779 to get added to the list. Those without texting capability can call the pharmacy.
Marc's Pharmacy
• 470 Howe Ave., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-928-8611
• 2753 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-869-0426
• 550 W. Aurora Road, Sagamore Hills, 330-468-4868
• 2891 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, 330-628-0781
• 3732 Darrow Road, Stow, 330-686-5285
• 360 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, 330-773-5554
Rite Aid
riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier
• 45 East Ave., Tallmadge, 330-633-1150
• 4053 S. Main St.,Akron, 330-644-9911
• 1540 Canton Road, Akron, 330-733-8378
• 2975 W. Market St.,Fairlawn, 330-867-8492
• 325E. Waterloo Road, Akron, 330-724-5219
• 1403 Wooster Road West, Barberton, 330-706-1004
• 1914 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-922-4466
Sand Run Pharmacy
• 40 Sand Run Road, Akron, 330-864-2138
The pharmacy has a limited supply and is working off its lengthy waiting list to schedule appointments. A person will get a phone call if a spot from the wait list becomes available. The pharmacy asks people do not call for appointments unless the person receives acall first from the pharmacy. To sign up for the wait list, go to sandrunpharmacy.com.
Summa Health
summahealth.org/coronavirus/vaccine
• Akron Campus, 141 N. Forge St., Akron, 234-867-7110
• Barberton Campus, 155 Fifth St. NE, Barberton, 234-867-7110
Summa patientswho meet the state eligibility who have a MyChart account can go to MyChart and schedule an appointment if any are available.
Appointments are on a first-come, first-served basis. Beginning March 8, Summa beganoffering a limited supply of vaccine appointments to non-Summa patients who sign up for a waiting list.
More informationis available at summahealth.org/coronavirus/vaccine. To sign up for a MyChart account, visit summahealth.org/mychart.
More: Summa Health to offer limited appointments for COVID-19 vaccine to non-Summa patients
Summit County Public Health
• 1867 W. Market St., Akron, 330-926-5795 or 330-923-4891
On Feb. 22,Summit County Public Health announced a new lottery system for vaccine appointments.The system, which startedMarch 1, pulls a computer-generated random sample of people who meet the state's current eligibility requirements from the health department's vaccine registry. Those selected will receive instructions on how to schedule an appointment.
People don't need to re-register in the system to be considered for the lottery. Those who haven't registered can do so at scph.org/covid/vaccine. Those without internet access can call 330-926-5795to get on the vaccine registry on weekdays from 9 a.m to 4 p.m.
Target/CVS
cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine
Target ispartnering with more than 600CVS locations within Target stores in 28 states and Puerto Rico to offer vaccines to eligible guests and team members. There are 81 CVS locations listed across Ohio. In Summit County, participatinglocations arein Copley and Fairlawn.
Target said it would make fitting rooms available to CVS at select stores to host appointments. Visitcvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccineto check eligibility and participating locations.
VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Eligible veterans enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Northeast Ohio Healthcare System (receiving care at Cleveland VA Medical Center or Akron, Canton, East Liverpool, Lake County, Lorain County, Mansfield, New Philadelphia, Parma, Ravenna, Sandusky, Warren or Youngstown VA clinics) can receive the vaccine through the system. Call the VA vaccine scheduling line at 216-707-7660 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to make an appointment for the first and second doses. Leave a voicemailif calling during off hours.
Veterans not enrolled in VA health care can contact the system to discuss their eligibility at 216-707-7914 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Veterans who are enrolled in VA for health care can sign up to notify the system of their interest in receiving thevaccine. VA will call veterans who sign up to schedule a vaccination appointment once their priority group is reached. Visit cleveland.va.gov/services/covid-19-vaccines.aspfor more information.
Walgreens
walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19
• 302 Canton Road, Akron, 800-925-4733
• 361 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, 330-724-2709
• 663 E. Aurora Road, Macedonia, 330-468-4800
• 840 Brittain Road, Akron, 800-925-4733
• 3009 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-867-1946
• 900 Wooster Road North, Barberton, 800-925-4733
• 1130 S. Arlington St., Akron, 800-925-4733
• 1303 Copley Road, Akron, 800-925-4733
• 1925 W. Market St., Akron, 800-925-4733
• 834 W. Market St., Akron, 800-925-4733
• 9043 Darrow Road, Twinsburg, 800-925-4733
Eligible Ohio residents can schedule their appointments at walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19 or by calling 800-WALGREENS (800-925-4733). The recording says in-store personnel are not able to make appointments and directs people to the website. Appointments are required, and walk-ins aren't accepted.
Walmart/Sam's Club
walmart.com/cp/1228302 (to make an appointment and schedule), corporate.walmart.com/covid-vaccine (for information)
• Walmart Supercenter, 2887 S. Arlington Road,Springfield Township
• Sam’s Club, 1189 Buchholzer Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls
• Sam’s Club, 3750 W. Market St. Unit J, Fairlawn
Insurance is not required, and there is no cost to receive the vaccine.Appointments for the second vaccination will be made while at the first appointment. Walmart anticipates the clinics will take place over the next several weeks as allocation allows.
COVID vaccines: Walmart, Sam's Club stores in Summit and Portage counties to begin COVID-19 vaccine clinics
Western Reserve Hospital
• 1900 23rd St., Cuyahoga Falls
Western Reserve Hospital is registering COVID-19 vaccination appointments via an online portal at westernreservehospital.org.
University Hospitals
There are no University Hospitals vaccination sites in Summit County; the only UH site for vaccines — by appointment only — is the UH Management Services Center, 3605 Warrensville Center Road, Shaker Heights. You don’t have to be a prior UH patient to register to receive a vaccine with UH.
Those who qualify to get the vaccine and have internet access can pre-register online at vaccine.uhhospitals.org.
Once a patient is pre-registered,UH will contact that patient via text or email when appointment times become available for them, providing a phone number for the patient to call to speak with a scheduler. Patients without internet access cancall216-844-3339.
Other vaccine information
Direction Home Akron Canton, or the Area Agency on Aging that serves Summit, Portage, Stark and Wayne counties, can't help schedule appointments but canhelp people find transportation options to a vaccination appointment,find providers and get signed up for registries. Call 800-421-7277.
Transportation assistance
Metro RTA's SCAT or paratransit service — which is available to Summit County residents 62 and older or those who have a temporary or permanent disability that prohibits the person from using the regular bus service — can be scheduled for a medical service to other locations for the vaccine.
Metro is transporting qualified SCAT customers to clinics at the Summit County health department vaccine clinic at its West Akron location. Metro will transport the patient to a specifically designated entrance at the health department, where an employee will escort them to the clinic. The process is expected to last about 45 minutes, and then the client will be returned home.
If a person is not registered for Metro SCAT service, they can register by calling 330-762-0341. Proof of age and residence are needed to register.
