CINCINNATI — Hamilton County's public health leaders have received federal funding to support their plan to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the next decade.

Inside Mount Auburn's Church of Our Savior, Tri-State community members gathered on World AIDS Day to remember those they have lost and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the community. One of the attendees, Jaasiel Chapman, said he has lost two friends to HIV/AIDS.

“As a gay black male, I see myself as the face of the epidemic," Chapman said.

Chapman has made it his life's work to help others, working as a program coordinator for Hamilton County Public Health — an organization that recently received federal funding attached to a plan focused on ending HIV/AIDS.

"It’s a way to honor their memory, to show their lives haven’t been in vain," Chapman said.

Hamilton County Public Health's goal is to have infection rates down 75% from current levels by 2025. By 2030, they hope to have infection rates down 90%.

“Dollars are going a lot to prevention — and to those who are tested and test positive, going to getting them into treatment, retaining them in treatment," Chapman said.

In 2019, the county reported 168 new diagnoses of HIV, down 10% from 2017. Chapman said there is still work to do.

“We need to have these conversations to continue to erode the stigma," Chapman said. "The stigma is a lot of what’s fueling the epidemic."

He said he has seen firsthand the changes science has provided over the past 40 years.

“We have come from the days of health departments sending out brochures of people who tested positive, brochures with cemeteries on the cover," Chapman said. "Now, you know, it’s like diabetes — it’s manageable. People don’t have to die.”

The plan targets HIV testing, preventing new infections and expanding care options in hopes of putting an end to HIV one day soon.

For more information on HIV testing, care and prevention in Hamilton County, click here.

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Dozens of vaccination sites across the Tri-State now offer COVID-19 shots to eligible people. With many sites located in hospitals, pharmacies, supermarkets, convention centers and arenas, could that system leave out the homebound?

WCPO viewer Patricia Keller asked how her mother, who is 95 and homebound, and other seniors could still receive their shots.

Dr. Steve Feagins, chief clinical officer at Mercy Health and medical director of Hamilton County Public Health, said leaders are working to get vaccines to those stuck inside.

“We know there are about 26,000 (Ohio) residents who have home health,” he said.

Ohio could model other states that have paramedicine, he said, where EMTs give doses and are legally able to go to people's homes. Feagins said some local fire chiefs have supported the idea.

Meanwhile, Ohio’s Council On Aging and United Way 211 offer transportation to seniors who can’t drive themselves to vaccine clinics.

While the main focus right now is to take people to the vaccine, he also said leaders are working on a plan with home health agencies to bring vaccines to those homebound.

“But we are definitely working to get a process to get vaccine to people's homes,” Feagins said.

This month, WCPO 9 is taking your questions about COVID-19 vaccines and posing them to local health care experts. Email newsdesk@wcpo.com or message @KristynHartmanWCPO on Facebook with your name, neighborhood and question, and you could see an expert answer it on air.

Why aren’t certain risk groups higher up on Ohio’s phased vaccination timeline?

One viewer wrote to WCPO asking: “Early versions of Governor Dewine's plan included persons who were immuno-compromised or taking immuno-suppressant meds in Stage 1B. Subsequently, they fell off the list and we have been unable to ascertain why or when they'll be eligible. This group is truly in need of upgraded info regarding their turn in line.”

Dr. Steve Feagins, chief clinical officer of Mercy Health and medical director for Hamilton County Public Health, agrees.

“We've been in talks with the Ohio Department of Health and the governor as well," he said. "It's hard to make these kinds of decisions...and I don't disagree that patients who have cancers or chemo -- individuals who are immune compromised -- should be getting vaccines."

Feagins said they take guidance from the governor’s office in terms of who is eligible to receive vaccines.

“However, we continue to talk,” he said. “Some 150 to 160 oncology providers wrote about cancer. I understand we've had about 1,300 different groups write about eligibility of vaccine. It's a tough time to make that decision.”

So did anybody fall off the eligibility list?

“In terms of falling off -- you could look at it that way. NIH had various lists as they were working to try and risk strategize. Go with age, most critical risk factor and congenital illnesses for risk stratification,” Feagins said.

This month, WCPO 9 is taking your questions about COVID-19 vaccines and posing them to local health care experts. Email newsdesk@wcpo.com or message @KristynHartmanWCPO on Facebook with your name, neighborhood and question, and you could see an expert answer it on air.

Some WCPO viewers have asked us if it’s safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine days before or after a surgery -- so we took the question to an expert.

“We certainly recommend the sooner you can get the vaccine the better,” said Dr. Steve Feagins, medical director for Hamilton County Public Health. “However, we do recommend if you're having surgery to wait 72 hours after the vaccine to avoid confusion with the surgery itself and side effects of the vaccine.”

Feagins said complications could develop if you've had anesthesia and try to get the vaccine too soon.

“Like everything else, it takes about three days to get everything out of your system, so waiting at least three days after surgery to to get the vaccine is very helpful," he said.

WCPO also asked why health care staff aren’t currently asking patients about to undergo a procedure if they’ve had a vaccination in the last few days.

“You know that's a great point. As we go forward and learn more -- not a bad thing to add to the list,” Feagins said.

WCPO 9 is taking your questions about COVID-19 vaccines and posing them to local health care experts. Email newsdesk@wcpo.com or message @KristynHartmanWCPO on Facebook with your name, neighborhood and question, and you could see an expert answer it on air.

NORWOOD, Ohio — Beginning Friday, April 16, Hamilton County Public Health will no longer require appointments for vaccination doses at the Board of Elections clinic site in Norwood.

The clinic is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Vaccines will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. If all doses have been given out before the end of the clinic’s hours, people who do not receive a shot can schedule an appointment within the next week.

“We piloted a no-appointment clinic and it was an overwhelming success,” Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman said. “Offering no-appointment clinics should capture some of the folks who have waited to schedule their vaccine. The more people we can get vaccinated, the closer we get to resuming our normal activities for the summer.”

People still wanting to make an appointment to get vaccinated can use the ArmorVax App and those without access to the internet can receive assistance scheduling by dialing 211.