Vaccine Roll Out A Smooth Process So Far in Western Oklahoma

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February 25, 2021

By News Director Jared Atha

The expanded phase 2 portion of Oklahoma’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan is already taking place in western Oklahoma.

A big portion of the plan includes educators.

Tuesday, Elk City School staff members started to receive their first round of shots with other schools quickly scheduling clinics for their employees.

Elk City, City Manager Tom Ivester stated recently that the City of Elk City and the Beckham County Health Department is getting the attention of state officials on how their weekly point of distribution clinics are being operated.

Ivester says with the latest step in the state’s roll out plan, Oklahoma’s allocation of the vaccine has increased by 45%.

Vaccination clinics at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford continue to serve residents from around the state of Oklahoma.

An additional highlight on February 26 will have Weatherford and Hydro-Eakly Public Schools teachers getting their shots.

SWOSU College of Pharmacy Rural Health Center Coordinator Randy Curry said the number of vaccinations given at SWOSU has already reached 6,500, and the Friday clinics continue to serve over 1,000 residents each time.

As soon as the Oklahoma State Department of Health opens the phase for other school employees, Curry said a clinic will be set up first for SWOSU employees followed by students later.

All clinics are being held at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center on the SWOSU campus in Weatherford, which was approved and set up as a point of distribution.

The clinics should continue Fridays for several months.

Curry encourages everyone to sign up on the OSDH scheduler, and it will place everyone in the appropriate category for vaccines. It is his understanding that appointments open seven days in advance, depending on the amount of vaccine coming from the federal government.

SWOSU faculty and students from the College of Pharmacy, School of Nursing and School of Allied Health—as well as many volunteers from SWOSU— have been assisting with the Oklahoma State Department of Health clinics.