While opinions on how the state is rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine may vary, county agencies are taking steps to ensure that those who want to get vaccinated can do so.

In Tuesday’s Eagle, Area Agency on Aging director Beth Herold said various county agencies are working together to provide vaccinations for persons with disabilities who are homebound and unable to travel to the hospital’s vaccination center at the Clearview Mall.

“I think it’s amazing — and that Butler County should be proud of how well everyone has come together to help the residents of our county,” Herold said of the outreach effort. “We are surpassing other counties on shots and how well we work together.”

This is good to hear.

It seems inevitable that the rollout of a vaccine for a once-in-a-century pandemic is going to have some bumps — for example, vaccination sites running out of vaccine.

While that process appears to be going more smoothly as emphasis from the federal level to get people vaccinated faster ramps up, it’s still a given that such a massive effort will face some challenges.

So, it’s great to see that county officials are doing what they can to ensure that no one — especially those who are vulnerable or stuck at home due to a disability that prevents them from traveling to the Clearview Mall facility — is forgotten during the vaccine rollout.

For anyone who is interested in getting a shot, but cannot make the trip to the vaccination center, contact the Area Agency on Aging to request a vaccine be brought to you. When the agency receives your request, your name will be placed on a list that is sent to Butler Memorial Hospital and the Visiting Nurses Association three times per week.

Once your appointment is set up, a nurse will drive to your home to administer the shot and set up your appointment for a second dose.

Getting those who are homebound vaccinated is especially important because many people with disabilities have been socially isolated during the past year. Once they receive the vaccine, visits from friends and family will be safer.

Brandon Savochka, county human services director, said of the collaboration between agencies administering vaccines to the homebound, “We have a community hospital and agencies that are county based — they care about the community because it’s their community.”

Kudos to all involved in this effort.

— NCD