Editor’s note: The above video is from a press conference on January 14.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Mahoning County Public Health has launched a new registration system for people to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine.
ArmorVax is a scheduling system that connects people with local healthcare providers to provide access to vaccines. The link to register and schedule your appointment day and time using ArmorVax can be found on the Mahoning County Public Health website at www.mahoninghealth.org.
Individuals already pre-registered in the existing Mahoning County system will be contacted by a scheduling specialist to schedule an appointment to receive a vaccine.
Ohio opened up vaccine eligibility to all those ages 16 and older on March 29.
Eligible individuals can receive a vaccine from the provider of their choice. Approved COVID vaccine providers can be found on the Ohio Department of Health website.
You can also make appointments for the area’s regional mass vaccination clinic. The regional mass vaccination clinic is located at the former Dillard’s Department Store at the Southern Park Mall in Boardman.
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be available at these clinics and you must be 18 years of age or older to receive this vaccine.
Appointments can also be made through MCPH’s scheduling system, ArmorVax, which can be found at www.mahoninghealth.org. For those who need assistance with the online scheduling system, call 330-270-2855, and select option 9.
Additional appointment dates and times will be made available each week based on demand and vaccine availability.
Residents of the community may contact the additional approved COVID vaccine providers listed on the Ohio Department of Health website. The listed providers also receive limited quantities of vaccines each week.
Those interested in receiving a vaccine must preregister; no vaccines will be given to walk-in patients.
According to Mahoning County Public Health, its goal is to eventually provide COVID-19 vaccinations to all those who need them.
Preregistration for vaccines in the City of Youngstown can be done online or by calling 330-502-4276.
To register with the city, you should be a city resident. According to City Health Commissioner Erin Bishop, however, they’re taking care of non-city residents who have already registered through the city.
Mercy Health has a couple of locations for community vaccination sites. To schedule an appointment, call 1-866-624-0366. Their hotline is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
These are being done through appointment only, and no walk-ins are allowed. Those applying must meet specific criteria.
For more information, go to www.mercy.com.
Southwoods Health also has its own COVID-19 outreach vaccination program. Appointments are also required for that program.
To schedule an appointment there, call 330-965-5099. Additional information will be provided to people who receive appointments.
Giant Eagle Pharmacy says it will begin scheduling qualified residents as early as Wednesday, Jan. 20. People are encouraged to set appointments on Giant Eagle’s online portal.
Mahoning County Health Commissioner Ryan Tekac said the vaccines are free to individuals, with or without insurance.
“If perhaps that there’s a chance that there are some doses left over, we do have a long list that was from Phase 1A health care partners that we would work down through and call them to ensure we are not wasting vaccines. We will do the same with Phase 1B. I can guarantee we will have a long list and we can make phone calls towards the end of the day and ensure those vaccines are distributed to someone in Phase 1B,” Tekac said.
Tekac said the vaccine should also be effective against the new variant of COVID-19.
After you get your vaccine, you’ll get a reminder card for your second vaccine. You will also get a call or text the week before your second vaccine to remind you of your appointment 21 or 28 days later, depending on if you get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
