CINCINNATI — Virginia and Noel Record spent their 73rd wedding anniversary getting the COVID-19 vaccine together.
The Cold Spring, Kentucky, couple got the vaccine at UC Health’s drive-through vaccination site on Tuesday. Noel, 93, and Virginia, 91, will return in three weeks to get their second dose.
The Records said they wanted to get vaccinated so they could get back to their normal life.
“We're looking forward to people getting vaccinated and getting back to normal where we can once again square dance and have fun again,” Noel said.
It is possible for Kentucky residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Ohio. It just depends who the provider is.
A UC Health spokesperson said that “UC Health will offer vaccines to patients who meet the Ohio Department of Health eligibility criteria ... regardless of residence."
The same goes for pharmacies. Kroger, CVS and Walgreens let patients choose where they get their shot.
But it’s different at county health departments. Hamilton County Public Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman said his agency is working to ensure people getting vaccinated either live or work in Hamilton County.
Hamilton County Public Health gets about 500 doses of vaccine per week. The agency’s doses are reserved for county residents; even people who live in Cincinnati, Norwood and Springdale are supposed to go to their city’s health department.
Despite this, Kesterman said his department is hardly looking to turn people away.
" … if somebody is meeting the current phase, and they've made the trouble to get to our clinic, we are working to make sure they can get vaccinated,” Kesterman said.
UC Health patients 80 and over can call 513-584-DOSE to schedule an appointment. Starting Monday, anyone 75 and older will be eligible.
Hamilton County and Cincinnati residents can visit testandprotectcincy.com for more information about the COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone who does not have access to the internet or a computer can call 2-1-1.
