CINCINNATI — The state of Ohio reached a new phase in its effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic this week with the opening of its mass vaccination site at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, in addition to pop-up sites in Columbus and Cincinnati.
"This system has worked well, once you get the appointment," Gov. Mike DeWine noted during his Thursday coronavirus briefing at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, where vaccinations are taking place. However, DeWine acknowledged the frustration that many Ohioans are going through trying to breach barriers to make appointments to get their doses.
During his remarks, DeWine let it slip that the state is planning to test the concept of walk-up vaccinations using a control group in Cleveland.
"We'll be working with our community partners. These would be underserved populations," DeWine said, adding that he was approached by area church leaders to try a program to get people vaccinated without appointments.
The governor did not announce when or where in Cleveland that this control group program would take place.
"I've always felt that at some point that we will have the opportunity to have mobile clinics in neighborhoods where people will literally be able to walk up and get vaccinated. It poses a challenge for the second dose and we'll have to figure it out," the governor added, noting that the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine might be a possibility in such cases.
"No matter what the registration is, no matter how easy or hard is, it still poses a barrier to some people because of whatever their situation in life happens to be," DeWine said.
You can watch Gov. Mike DeWine's Thursday COVID-19 briefing in the player below:
More from Gov. DeWine: