Rollout of the Phase 1B coronavirus vaccines began this week with residents aged 80 and older receiving their shots at various clinics across Belmont County.
The Belmont County Health Department set up a drive-up vaccination station at the Belmont County Fairgrounds. Roughly 400 first-round doses of the Pfizer vaccine were administered.
Some patients drove themselves, others had family to charter them back and forth. But not everyone is that fortunate. For those unable to obtain a ride to the drive-up vaccination, Seniors Services of Belmont County stepped up to the plate.
“We are working closely with the health department as the group we serve are on the front line for receiving shots,” said Dwayne Pielech, Executive Director of Senior Services of Belmont County. “We had all of our drivers on standby and did receive a handful of calls for transport to receive a vaccination.
“These will continue over the next few weeks so we will continue to work with Rob (Sproul) and Linda (Mehl). The event had some staff at the fairgrounds helping with the process.”
Pielech noted that SSBC will continue to transport residents in need during the coming weeks as the age limit drops by five each week and more elderly in Belmont County become eligible to receive the shot.
Not everyone is receiving the vaccination directly from the health department. WVU Medicine Barnesville Hospital hosted a two-day vaccination clinic Thursday and today to distribute the 200 doses it received initially.
Those residents too will be able to request a medical transport to receive the vaccine.
“I talked with a couple in Martins Ferry, and they were able to get in line at Barnesville but couldn’t get in with the health department. Neither drives, so we’re going to transport them,” Pielech said. “We’re not sitting idly by right now. We’re trying to be proactive because these are tough times right, especially for our seniors. There are a lot of unknowns.”
Medical Transport Back to Full Service
When pandemic restrictions first went into play back in March 2020, SSBC saw an initial reduction in services. The counties at various senior centers closed, and non-medically necessary transportation also came to a temporary halt.
If a resident needed transported to a dialysis appointment, those runs were still made. But an eyeglasses appointment? Not happening.
“With safety measures we were still transporting for dialysis, chemotherapy patients, anything medically necessary,” Pielech recalled. “But for everyone else, there was a reduction in services. Hospitals also eliminated elective procedures during that time too.”
Pielech noted that in order to keep in contact with the county’s seniors, SSBC staff made weekly reassurance calls to seniors. The idea was the check up on them once a week to make sure everything was okay and if anything was needed.
As summer rolled and restrictions lifted slightly, other requests for medical transport began being honored again.
“We saw a bit of a spike in the summer as people were getting caught up on elective procedures, general doctor appointments, things that were postponed from earlier,” Pielech said. “Now we’re seeing a bit of a reduction, and it’s starting to level out.”
Seniors needing transportation for either a vaccine or other medical reason need only call the transportation department of SSBC at 740-695-6868.
Keeping Busy
The senior centers remain closed and likely will be for the foreseeable future. The department reevaluated the situation back in October to explore the possibility of reopening the county’s 10 senior facilities. The move just wasn’t, and still isn’t, feasible.
Combined, the senior centers served roughly 100 meals per day to the county residents that gathered inside their halls for food, socialization, and entertainment. Without that option, Pielech noted those seniors have been converted over to home meal delivery.
In fact, with more seniors homebound because of the virus, SSBC has seen an increase of 500 meals per day, upping its total to 1,110 per day, Monday through Friday.
“We’re utilizing some of our center staff, the drivers and other part-time workers, and mixing them in to assist,” Pielech said of the increased workload. “It’s an ever-changing process. We have a position open now for a nutrition driver.”
Good news, not only for seniors but all property-owning residents of Belmont County is the current status of SSBC’s financials.
In short, things were and are looking good, so good, in fact, that it was decided to let a 0.5 mill levy fall off and not be put up for a renewal vote.
“We used to have a total of 3.0 mills, now it’s 2.5,” Pielech said. “That (0.5) levy expired in 2020, and we were very comfy with the budget and decided not to put it up for renewal vote.
“We are confident, with outside funding, and the federal monies we utilize for food and medical transport that we’ll be able to balance the budget.”
It’s not often you see tax levy eliminated anywhere but the ballot box. There is still a 1 mill renewal levy up for vote in November, along with a 1.5 mill levy the following year. But the overall total has been reduced.
