COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Offered

Elizabeth Pitts-Hibbard

The Marlow Review

Due to the availability of vaccines for COVID-19, opportunities are opening for Phase 2 of the State of Oklahoma’s vaccination plan. Phase 2 includes first responders, health care workers, and Oklahomans aged 65 and older. There are currently two clinics available for those who fall into the Phase 2 category: Stephens County Health Department and DRH Health.

The Stephens County Health Department clinic will be open on Thursdays beginning on January 7th. The clinic hours are 10am – 6pm at the Stephens County Fairgrounds.

Although some walk-ins will be accepted at the clinic, the Health Department recommends making an online appointment via a link on the Stephens County Health Department page: facebook.com/StephensCoHealthDept, or via the newly-launched COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduler Portal at vaccinate.oklahoma.gov. All Oklahomans may pre-register via the portal to be notified when they are eligible for the vaccine and when appointments are available.

As of press time, there were no available appointments for the January 7 clinic, but the vaccination events will be held weekly as more vaccines are received.

“We are excited to provide the vaccine to community members,” said Mendy Spohn, Regional Administrative Director for Oklahoma State Department of Health District 8. “We are viewing this as our light at the end of the tunnel with the pandemic. We urge all eligible Oklahomans to get the vaccine as soon as it is available to them. There will be continuing supplies coming into the state, and we will keep adding populations to the eligibility list as soon as we can open it up.”

Information from the Oklahoma Department of Health (OSDH) indicated that plans were being made to make vaccines available for those who are medically fragile, homebound, or unable to walk or sit.

Updates to eligible populations will be released on the Stephens County Health Department’s Facebook page.

DRH Health announced on Monday that the facility would host a vaccination clinic at the DRH Pavilion on Friday, January 8 from 8:30am – 3:30pm and continue to do so on Fridays as vaccines are available. All appointments are filled for the January 8 event but those eligible for Phase 2 may call 580-251-8040 for a future appointment.

“Upon completion of your initial vaccination, we will immediately schedule your booster vaccination,” the statement from DRH Health said. “Please allow enough time to register, receive the vaccination, and stay for a 15-minute observation period.”

Additional information regarding future clinic appointments and vaccine availability will be announced at the hospital’s website: www.drhhealth.org, as well as on the facility’s social media accounts.