Plan to get 80% of Cincinnati area vaccinated by July 4

Health, business and community leaders in southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky are working together to get people vaccinated against COVID-19 in a campaign that begins this weekend.

The goal of the Get Out the Vax campaign: The Cincinnati region with 15 counties, including Southeast Indiana, is to be vaccinated from the current 35% against the novel coronavirus to 80% of adults by July 4th.

Reaching the 80% mark could bring the region close Achieve herd immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19. No one can be sure when herd immunity protection will be achieved as the novel coronavirus is new.

The partners aim to remove barriers preventing people from receiving a vaccine and plan to announce their efforts at 10:30 a.m. today at Smale Riverfront Park, downtown. The campaign runs on the second and fourth weekends in April and May.

Vaccination appointments are offered at 20 locations in the region, including existing locations at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown, the Cintas Center in Evanston, Wilmington Air Park, and the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington.

New sites are being set up that will focus on minorities where vaccination rates have lagged. For example, a vaccination center in the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati in Avondale will be operated from Sunday. A new Hispanic community site is planned for the Tri-County Mall in Springdale, operated by Sterling Rapid Response.

Information and planning links for providers who offer weekend appointments can be found at www.testandprotectcincy.com on the Greater Cincinnati Health Collaborative Site. The additional planning will be continued via already operated provider sites. In addition, United Way’s 211 line provides assistance for those struggling with access to online planning.

“It is important that we vaccinate as many people as possible to help eradicate this pandemic,” said Brent Cooper, president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, in a statement.

One of the obstacles that health officials have been concerned about is transportation, and partners plan to make it available to vaccination sites for free. Subway and tank rides are offered with support from Fidelity Investments, and free Lyft rides are offered through United Way 211 from Greater Cincinnati and regional hospitals run by TriHealth and UC Health.

“If we hit this 80% milestone, we’ll be a big step closer to fighting the virus in our region,” said Craig Brammer, president and CEO of Health Collaborative, a partnership between hospitals in Greater Cincinnati. “We are starting to see the benefits of vaccination, but barriers need to be removed so that every community has access.”

In support of the venture, the Cincinnati Reds are offering discounted tickets Monday through Thursday to anyone who provides proof of vaccination, the press release said.

To keep track of progress, digital counters will be placed on billboards across the region.

The company is sponsored in part by Fidelity and supported by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Hamilton County Test and Protect, and the six regional health systems: UC Health, Mercy Health, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Christ Hospital, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and TriHealth.