CLEVELAND — On Sunday evening, Gov. Mike DeWine traveled to Cleveland and addressed the upcoming opening of the mass vaccination clinic at the Wolstein Center, outlining a ramp-up method of vaccination appointments and ways the state is working to make the vaccines accessible to all Ohioans.
On Tuesday, March 16, the mass vaccination clinic will have a “soft launch” with about 1,500 people able to be vaccinated, DeWine said.
The official launch will take place on March 17.
After the clinic opens, DeWine said the number of appointments made and individuals able to be vaccinated will increase daily, ramping up as the site gets more adjusted to bringing in and vaccinating people at such a large volume.
By Monday, March 22, DeWine expects the clinic to be able to vaccinate around 6,000 individuals a day.
The governor not only outlined the number of vaccines expected to be administered as the clinic continues, but which vaccines will be distributed and when.
In the first three weeks of the clinic’s opening, the Pfizer vaccine will be administered to those being vaccinated at the Wolstein Center. DeWine said that up to 126,000 Ohioans will be included in this phase of the mass vaccination clinic.
DeWine said that in weeks four, five and six, the up to 126,000 Ohioans will receive their second dose of Pfizer vaccine.
Then, in week seven and eight of the mass vaccination site, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be administered, which only requires one shot. The governor said that up to 84,000 Ohioans will be able to be vaccinated in this phase.
DeWine said that 210,000 is the total number of Ohioans who will be able to be vaccinated with the number of doses allotted for the mass vaccination clinic at the Wolstein Center.
The governor said that community partners in the area will have appointments set aside to fill themselves, aiming to make the vaccine equally accessible to all Ohioans by focusing on underserved communities. Organizations and faith-based groups will have the opportunity to schedule appointments for their communities, which if not filled 48 from the day they are opened will be made available to the general public, DeWine said.
Whether there are leftover doses or DeWine and the state makes the conscious decision to divert some of the vaccines—a portion of the vaccinations could be used for mobile clinics, according to the governor.
DeWine said there have been talks to make the mobile clinics walk-in style where no appointment is required.
“As we move forward in the weeks ahead we can divert other doses to these clinics,” DeWine said.
DeWine said that the two goals of the state are to get the shots in arms quickly and to ensure every Ohioan who wants to receive the vaccine can easily do so.
Registration for the mass vaccination clinic at the Wolstein Center will open again Monday morning, DeWine said.
Ohioans can either go to the website or call 1-833-427-5634 to book an appointment.
Most of the appointments in the first two weeks have been filled, aside from those held back for community partners, but Ohioans are encouraged to check the site each day to see if appointments become available as appointments open up for others to fill when there is a cancellation.
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