A full year after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the United States is one of many countries around the world that is well into vaccine distribution. In December of 2020,  vaccinations were first issued to older citizens due to their high susceptibility to illness. Now, and in the upcoming months, younger people are becoming eligible to get vaccinated. Beginning on March 29th, anybody age 16 and older in Ohio is eligible to receive the vaccine. 

     These vaccines have undergone months of trials on people of all ages in preparation for this distribution. Both Pfizer and BioNTech have announced an efficiency rate of 95%. With this kind of high-efficiency rate, many are hopeful the end of the pandemic is in sight! 

     How to Make an Appointment:  

     Depending on the vaccine provider you choose, there are different ways to go about making an appointment. The easiest way to get started is by going to the CDC website and launching the Vaccine Finder program. In this application, you will find multiple filters available to specify which vaccine you are looking for. Simply check the boxes that represent the product you want to search for. The current options are Moderna, Johnson & Jonson, or Pfizer-BioNTech. Once you have selected the preferred vaccine, input your zip code and the distance you are able to travel for your appointment (in miles). A list of providers will appear along with details about which vaccines they have in stock. Finally, follow the link to the provider’s website and check their appointment availability. Pick a date, add in your information and you are all set to be vaccinated! 

      The rate that Ohio is being vaccinated at is much quicker than originally predicted. Due to this, our normal lives may be much closer than we once thought. With each and every vaccination, the country gets closer and closer to herd immunity, (a high percentage of the population becoming temporarily immune to COVID-19), and with that closer to life the way it was before March 2020.