In Northern Kentucky beginning June 1, St. Elizabeth Healthcare will shift its COVID-19 vaccine appointments from its St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center, which has operated as a clinic sight since vaccines first arrived in Kentucky, to St. Elizabeth Physicians primary care sites. The vaccines will become available at select offices through the first two weeks of June, and will transition to all practices with primary care locations by mid-June, officials said Wednesday.
Initially, the Moderna vaccine will be the only COVID-19 vaccine administered at the St. Elizabeth Physicians offices. Patients will have the option to receive their vaccine at their appointment when they see their provider, and appointments for the second dose will be made before leaving the office. The hospital system will not initially vaccinate kids 12-15 with the Pfizer vaccine, but St. E has has provided vaccine to other local pediatricians to help meet the demand, officials said.
The Moderna vaccine has not yet been FDA-approved for kids this age, so they will not be vaccinated initially at the primary care offices, but once approvals come, St. Elizabeth Physicians offices will offer the vaccine for kids' appointments in the age group.
Several of Christ Hospital's primary care doctors' offices already are providing the vaccine.
Mercy Health-Cincinnati is expanding its vaccine locations by offering COVID-19 vaccinations through its primary care practices as part of its standard patient care, said spokeswoman Nanette Bentley. As people schedule appointments, they'll be directed to locations that offer the vaccines. Gradually, more primary care offices will carry the vaccine. The hospital system will also continue vaccination clinics at Mercy Hospital Clermont, Kenwood Towne Centre and and Kyles Station for eligible area residents, as well as other community and employer vaccine partnerships.
See The Enquirer's guide to getting a COVID-19 vaccine in the Cincinnati area.
UC Health still has a dedicated vaccination center, but it moved this week from a garage to a walk-in clinic at West Professional Building on Burnet Avenue in Avondale, an outpatient location. "We are not offering vaccinations in primary care offices, but UC Health primary care physicians have always been able to refer eligible patients to our vaccination center," said spokeswoman Amanda Nageleisen. In addition, she said, inpatients and emergency department patients at UC Medical Center and Daniel Drake Center for Post-Acute Care are being offered vaccination upon discharge.
TriHealth’s approach to vaccination access is focused on "meeting individuals where they are" by having a variety of options for people who want the vaccine, officials said in a statement. The options include community pop-up vaccine sites across the region, collaborating with employers and schools to offer on-site vaccinations, and continuing vaccine access within the TriHealth system -- including at physician and pediatric offices, which are getting the vaccine in a phased-in process.
Across the region, vaccine clinics are being right-sized to match current demand and offer vaccinations in the most convenient, accessible locations," Schroder said, adding that the large-scale stadium vaccination clinics are not needed anymore.
