Erie County Health Department now vaccinating priority populations

The Erie County Health Department is now administering Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to priority populations in Erie County. The priority population are people who are in Ohio’s Phase 1A vaccine group. Those are healthcare workers and personnel who are involved in the care of COVID-19 patients, EMS responders, and vulnerable individuals who live together in close proximity and those who care for them.

During this phase of the vaccination plan, all vaccines administered by the Erie County Health Department are being administered at the Erie County Health Department Office at 420 Superior Street in Sandusky, Conference Center. Each appointment is 20 minutes in length to allow for the completion of paperwork, vaccine administration, and post vaccine observation. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine requires two doses, 28 days apart. Appointments to receive the second dose of the vaccine are scheduled when the first dose is administered.

According to Health Commissioner Pete Schade, “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. The vaccine development process included several steps comparable with those used to develop earlier vaccines, and the FDA, as well as independent medical experts, have ensured that every detail of these vaccines are thoroughly and rigorously evaluated.”

As of Tuesday, a combined 1,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Erie County to priority populations and there have been no reports of adverse events related to either vaccine.