Lorain County Public Health considering 'mega-pod' vaccine clinics

With access to COVID-19 vaccines increasing, Lorain County Public Health is weighing the possibility of holding "mega-pod" clinics where up to 5,000 people could be vaccinated once doses are even more widely available. Lorain County Health Commissioner David Covell told members of the Community Protection Team — a group of local health, civic, business and education leaders — that the health department is scouting outdoor locations where it could conduct these massive clinics in the spring. One location that could be utilized is Avon's Mercy Health Stadium, formerly known as Crushers Stadium. Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen previously told Covell the stadium is available if Lorain County Public Health needs it for a large-scale vaccine site. "I know you might think a 1,000-person pod, that is a mass vax pod," Covell said. "We're actually thinking a little bigger." A "pod" is the health department's term for the clinic where vaccines are distributed to residents, which have been held at fire stations, education facilities and other locations. Although some pods have been drive-thrus, Covell said that method has its limitations. Asked by Jensen if a massive drive-thru outside the Mercy Health Stadium would be as effective as a walk-up clinic inside, Covell said it would probably be about half as fast. "Drive-thrus are great for folks who are 80 plus; they're great if it's really cold or slippery out," he said. "... But really, when it comes to mass vaccination pods, I could double the amount if people could walk into the stadium." Designated drive-up areas for people with limited mobility would be possible at a potential mega-pod clinic. Covell said volunteer members of Lorain County Public Health's medical reserve corps have been assisting at clinics, but the health department may reach out to the Ohio National Guard for additional help with a 5,000-dose mega-pod. A single 5,000-dose vaccine clinic would be enough to inoculate roughly 1.6 percent of Lorain County's population. Vaccine shipments to Lorain County Public Health are progressively becoming larger. Covell said that in late December, about 500 doses were coming in each week. That doubled to 1,000 per week by early January and doubled again to 2,000 per week in late January and early February. "We expect that to start doubling again," he said. "These are all good things." Other vaccine providers in the county also are continuing to see shipments. As of Tuesday afternoon, 35,875 people in Lorain County had received at least their first dose of the vaccine, and 19,092 had finished with both doses, according to an online dashboard from the Ohio Department of Health. That equates to more than 6 percent of Lorain County residents having received both doses. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.