The Daily Standard
Story Archive
In this 2020 photo, a Mercer County Health District nurse pre-
pares a COVID-19 shot.
With fall in full swing, health officials encourage people to get vaccinated against a trio of illnesses.
In addition to the flu shot, updated COVID-19 vaccines are available for just about everyone 6 months and older as well as new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for adults 60 and older and mothers-to-be. There is also a vaccine-like medicine for babies to defend against RSV that should be available later this fall.
Mercer County Health District Commissioner Jason Menchhofer said vaccines have a well-established history of safety and effectiveness.
"It's certainly something that can help protect people or can help prevent severe illness," he said. "We encourage people to get (vaccinated) if they think it's right for them and take their doctor's advice into account."
The ever-evolving coronavirus is here to stay, which is why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave COVID-19 vaccine makers a new formula for this fall. Similar to how flu shots are updated every year, this year's vaccine has a single focus: an omicron descendant named XBB.1.5. The vaccine is recommended for everyone ages six months and older.
The shots are supposed to be provided free in-network to the insured. The Ohio Department of Health also offers vaccines free of charge to eligible children, including those who are uninsured, through the federal Vaccines for Children program.
For the uninsured or underinsured, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has opened the Bridge Access Program to provide free shots at CVS, Walgreens and eTrue North pharmacies through the end of 2024.
People can get a flu shot and COVID-19 shot at the same time, although one in each arm might be more comfortable. The CDC urges a yearly flu shot for most people over the age of 6 months. The best time is by the end of October.
Vaccines to protect against RSV are also available. RSV is a cold-like nuisance for most people, but the virus packs hospitals every winter and kills several hundred kids and thousands of seniors.
RSV vaccines from GSK and Pfizer are approved for adults 60 and older. The CDC is advising seniors to ask their doctor if they should get the one-dose shot.
The FDA also has approved Pfizer's RSV vaccine to be given late in pregnancy so moms-to-be pass the protection to their newborns. CDC recommendations on that use are expected later this month. The CDC is recommending that pregnancy vaccinations be offered between September and January, when RSV tends to be most common.
There's no RSV vaccine for children, but babies whose mothers didn't get vaccinated in pregnancy may get an injection of lab-made antibodies to guard against RSV.
Called Beyfortus, the one-dose shot from Sanofi and AstraZeneca is different than a vaccine, which teaches the body to make its own infection-fighting antibodies, but is similarly protective. The one-dose drug is recommended for all infants younger than 8 months before their first RSV season.
Area vaccine clinics
The Mercer County Health District will host a special vaccine clinic in partnership with the Area Agency on Aging on Oct. 13 at the Central Services Building at 220 W. Livingston St., Celina. The clinic is geared toward people with disabilities and older adults, and curbside service will be available if needed.
The clinic will offer the new 2023-2024 coronavirus vaccine, flu vaccines, pneumonia vaccines and the RSV vaccine. To schedule an appointment, call 419-586-3251 and select option 2.
The Mercer County Health District's annual drive-thru flu vaccine clinic will be held from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Mercer County Fairgrounds. No appointment is necessary. Forms can be filled out ahead of time, which can be found online at www.mchdohio.org.
The Auglaize County Health Department offers vaccinations for older adults, including flu, pneumonia, shingles and COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling 419-738-3410.
The Auglaize County Health Department also will host a drive-thru flu shot clinic from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds. Flu shots will be available for ages 6 months and older.
For more information, call 419-738-3410. Those planning on attending the clinic can print out forms ahead of time from here
The COVID-19 vaccine is available at the Mercer County Health District, Celina; CVS Pharmacy, Celina; Rite Aid, St. Marys; Kroger Pharmacy, St. Marys; Auglaize County Health Department, Wapakoneta; and CVS Pharmacy, Wapakoneta, according to vaccines.gov. All locations except Rite Aid and Kroger Pharmacy are Bridge Access Program participants.
For more information on COVID-19 and flu vaccine availability, visit vaccines.gov or contact your primary care physician.
- The Associated Press contributed to this article.
