Rep. Gayle Manning, Columbia Township trustees join hundreds getting COVID vaccines in Lorain County
Hundreds more Lorain County residents got their first dose of vaccine to counteract the novel coronavirus pandemic.
On Feb. 11, Lorain County Public Health held a mass vaccination clinic using the Pfizer vaccine at the Columbia Township Fire Department, 25540 Royalton Road.
There were 1,054 first shots distributed at the event, which started at 9 a.m.
After 90 minutes, about 270 people already were through the line.
Recipients included state Rep. Gayle Manning and Columbia Township Trustee Dick Heidecker, who received his shot in the building after his wife, Sandra, had her injection delivered curbside.
After filling out the paperwork and talking about vaccine, Lorain County Public Health nurse Juli Foor delivered Manning’s first of the two doses.
The actual shot took just seconds, and Columbia Township fire Capt. Kevin Barnard, a paramedic, was similarly speedy with Heidecker’s needle stick.
After the shot, people are asked to wait there 15 minutes in case any severe side effects develop.
“She says if I’m having any trouble, honk my horn — I wait five minutes here, 10 minutes in the car — but they would send out a good-looking paramedic,” Manning said with a laugh.
“You’ve got to have a sense of humor about this,” Foor said.
On a serious note, Manning acknowledged she has joined many others in complaining about shutdowns, shelter-in-place orders and health precautions advised against COVID-19.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for some families.
But, the circumstances still are relatively good compared to crisis times such as World War II, Manning said.
Foor used the example of dealing with smallpox.
That viral disease was eradicated due to vaccination, but that once had a 30 percent fatality rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Manning said she understands some people are reluctant to get the vaccine.
In her own family, years ago, she said her parents both had polio.
Neither had too many repercussions from it, Manning said, and now people don’t worry about that disease due to vaccinations.
“I’m not worried about getting it,” she said about the COVID-19 shots. “I’m definitely coming and everyone I talk to said they can’t wait to get their vaccines.
“I’m so glad that the governor (Mike DeWine) is making sure that educators are getting it so we can get all the kids back in the classroom full time, which is really important to me.”
Manning, a retired teacher, said Lorain County teachers will have mass vaccination clinics scheduled Feb. 26.
After filling out the paperwork and talking about vaccine, Lorain County Public Health nurse Juli Foor delivered Manning’s first of the two doses.
The actual shot took just seconds, and Columbia Township fire Capt. Kevin Barnard, a paramedic, was similarly speedy with Heidecker’s needle stick.
After the shot, people are asked to wait there 15 minutes in case any severe side effects develop.
“She says if I’m having any trouble, honk my horn — I wait five minutes here, 10 minutes in the car — but they would send out a good-looking paramedic,” Manning said with a laugh.
“You’ve got to have a sense of humor about this,” Foor said.
On a serious note, Manning acknowledged she has joined many others in complaining about shutdowns, shelter-in-place orders and health precautions advised against COVID-19.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for some families.
But, the circumstances still are relatively good compared to crisis times such as World War II, Manning said.
Foor used the example of dealing with smallpox.
That viral disease was eradicated due to vaccination, but that once had a 30 percent fatality rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Manning said she understands some people are reluctant to get the vaccine.
In her own family, years ago, she said her parents both had polio.
Neither had too many repercussions from it, Manning said, and now people don’t worry about that disease due to vaccinations.
“I’m not worried about getting it,” she said about the COVID-19 shots. “I’m definitely coming and everyone I talk to said they can’t wait to get their vaccines.
“I’m so glad that the governor (Mike DeWine) is making sure that educators are getting it so we can get all the kids back in the classroom full time, which is really important to me.”
Manning, a retired teacher, said Lorain County teachers will have mass vaccination clinics scheduled Feb. 26.
Sharon Oberrath, of North Ridgeville, came to the clinic for her first dose with neighbor Jim Rykaceski, the retired superintendent of Midview Schools.
Rykaceski received his first dose Feb. 9 at the Lorain County Public Health clinic in Amherst.
“It’s better than getting the virus,” Oberrath said. “I didn’t want to take a chance.”
They agreed the shot is not painful.
“I feel great,” Oberrath said. “A weight has been lifted off of my mind.”
“That’s a good point — just relieved that I got the shot,” Rykaceski said.
He added he was surprised at the number of people who come through just one vaccine event.
“Well done,” Rykaceski said. “It’s amazing how well organized it is; you can’t complain.
"When you’ve got this many people, they’re doing the best they can.”