10 • The Beacon January 28 , 2021
First community COVID-19 vaccine clinics held
By Jen Jones
The next phase of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine began Jan . 19 and 21 at 637 Chestnut St . ( the former Hopewell Industries location ). This is phase 1B of the vaccination plan and is for people age 80 and older .
According to Rob McMasters , director of the Coshocton County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management , all of the doses for both days were filled . “ The call center was overwhelmed with calls from citizens wanting to schedule their appointment . Scheduling for the next age group will begin once additional doses are received ,” he said .
McMasters said there are forms that need to be filled out and brought to the appointment . These forms can be found at www . coshoctoncounty . net / covid . He also advised proper clothing should be worn as the vaccine is administered by a shot in the arm .
“ Short-sleeve shirts are recommended . After receiving your shot , you must stay for observation for any potential reactions for 15 minutes . There is a waiting area at the clinic with seats spaced appropriately 6 feet apart ,” McMasters said .
McMasters also said the main side effect he has heard of is a sore arm at the injection site . “ Some have said they felt a little fatigued . I only had soreness at the injection site for about 24 hours ,” he said .
Lauren Unger received the first dose of the vaccine as an employee of Echoing Hills . When asked if she was nervous about getting
the vaccine , she replied , “ Sure , but it ’ s been important to me since the onset of COVID to try and do my part to make others safe . Some of my family and friends had it , and my mom is still suffering from complications from having it in September . I lost a few friends to it as well .”
Unger said she took time to research the vaccine and decided the benefits outweighed the risk of side effects . “ Obviously , taking the vaccine is a personal choice and side effects could be a real concern for some people , but for me , it just seemed like the right choice ,” she said .
Tory Sines also received the first dose of the vaccine through her job . She had COVID and lost both of her parents in late November from complications of
COVID . “ I wanted to get the vaccine because I want to take every precaution I can to keep from getting it again or possibly give it to someone else ,” she said .
Because Sines had COVID , she was told she may experience more side effects after receiving the vaccine . “ I did have a fever , extreme headache , fatigue and nausea . The symptoms were gone in about 48 hours , not as severe as actual COVID ,” she said .
McMasters said his stepfather passed away Jan . 11 . “ As someone who has seen the effects that COVID-19 has on a person , I highly encourage everyone to get the vaccine . To get back to normal , we must put a stop to this very dangerous illness ,” he said .
Muskingum Valley Health Center also was selected as a distribution partner for the COVID vaccine . MVHC will distribute the vaccine in partnership with the local health departments in Muskingum , Guernsey , Morgan and Coshocton counties .
MVHC will observe the distribution plan constructed by the Ohio Department of Health . Designated MVHC sites in each county will be utilized for vaccinating patients . Patients can call MVHC at 1-888- 454-5157 to schedule an appointment for the vaccine . All patients scheduled to receive the vaccine will receive updates including reminders for when the second dose needs to be administered .
MVHC is committed to being transparent to the public throughout this process to ensure the public is vaccinated efficiently . For the week of Jan . 18 , the Ohio Department of Health allocated approximately 700 doses to MVHC for the four-county region . MVHC was committed to vaccinating patients within 24 hours of receipt of the vaccine and having all the vaccine administered within seven days or less . Each week MVHC will communicate to the public the number of vaccines it will receive by county .
COVID-19 vaccines allocated to MVHC are for any community member of the county in which the vaccine is shipped to by the Ohio Department of Health .
The MVHC COVID vaccine website is www . mvhccares . org .
Coshocton Foundation distributes grant funds
The distribution committee of the Coshocton Foundation had its first meeting of fiscal year 2021 recently and reviewed 30 grant applications totaling $ 330,944.44 . The committee awarded 15 grants totaling $ 97,476 to numerous community organizations . The grants awarded include :
—$ 25,000 to Kno-Ho- Co-Ashland Community Action Commission to help renovate a Hickory Street building to serve as a homeless shelter .
Please call me to discuss your Medicare options .
RHONDA KRAUS , MSW
740-502-2784 Calling This Number Will Connect You With A Licensed Insurance Agent .
801 WALNUT STREET , COSHOCTON SeniorBenefitAdvantage . com
MEDICARE COUNSELING
We have Medicare Plans ! Let Us Help Find a Plan that Fits Your Needs ! NEVER A FEE ! LOCAL AND ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU !
740-502-2784 OR 330-415-9287
BF-00500117
—$ 15,650 to the Coshocton County Coordinated Transportation Agency for camera systems for CCTA Shuttles .
—$ 10,000 to the Village of West Lafayette for the West Lafayette Police Department ’ s Canine Project .
—$ 10,000 to the Roscoe Village Foundation for the village ’ s portable stage project .
—$ 8,000 to the Coshocton County Handicapped Society for the installation of aluminum ramps for homes in the county .
—$ 5,000 to the Coshocton County Agricultural Society for its sound system upgrade project .
—$ 4,900 to Coshocton City Schools for a mobile recording studio for Coshocton High School .
—$ 4,000 to River View Local School District for River View High School ’ s senior project program .
—$ 3,902 to Kids America Inc . to continue its soccer net replacement project
SEND US YOUR with the large indoor soccer field .
—$ 3,500 to the City of Coshocton for the 2021 Arbor Day Planting Project .
—$ 2,500 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio to provide nights of rest to families from Coshocton County .
—$ 2,141 to the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum to secure the Wyeth Painting Exhibit and its 16th Century violin display .
—$ 1,283 to Coshocton City Schools for the student and staff CPR training project .
—$ 1,100 to the Harold W . McMillen Center for Health Education for the digital oral health curriculum at Coshocton County Head Start .
—$ 500 to Coshocton Christian Tabernacle for the Coshocton Christian School ’ s security system project .
The Coshocton Foundation was established in 1966 through the last will and testament of local merchant Adolph Golden and has distributed more than $ 8.6 million in grants to community organizations from its unrestricted fund . In addition , the foundation has more than 160 restricted funds from which distributions are made for specific purposes . More information about the Coshocton Foundation can be found at www . coshoctonfoundation . org .
NEWS jsellers @ alonovus . com