Mayor Holt Receives Coronavirus Vaccine, Encourages Oklahoma City Residents To Get Vaccinated

Press release from the City of Oklahoma City:

March 15, 2021

Mayor David Holt encouraged all Oklahoma City residents to get a COVID-19 vaccine and end the pandemic, receiving the vaccine himself Monday from the OKC-County Health Department (OCCHD).

“On a personal level, I’m excited to receive the first dose of the vaccine,” said Mayor Holt. “With most Oklahomans now eligible, I want our residents to hear the message that there is no need to delay your pursuit of the vaccine any longer. It’s welcomed and appropriate for you to begin the process of receiving your vaccination by visiting vaxokc.com.”

Monday is the first anniversary of the first confirmed case of local spread in the metro, and when Mayor Holt proclaimed the ongoing state of emergency in Oklahoma City.

Mayor Holt received a dose of the Pfizer vaccine. He will receive the second booster dose in three weeks.

OCCHD is leading the local vaccination effort in the metro, with other vaccination appointments available via the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), Walmart, Sam’s Club, CVS, independent pharmacies, tribal vaccination sites and other locations.

Mayor Holt is among the 85% of Oklahoma adults that OSDH estimates are now eligible to receive the vaccine from OCCHD, OSDH or a pharmacy.

Some tribal vaccination sites are already offering vaccination appointments to all Oklahomans age 16+, with other providers expected to follow soon.

All three vaccines available via the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization are safe, effective and will save your life.

How to get vaccinated

There are several ways to get vaccinated in the OKC metro or elsewhere in Oklahoma:

• Visit vaxokc.com to book an appointment at an OCCHD vaccination event.
• Visit vaccinate.oklahoma.gov to fill out the state’s COVID-19 questionnaire. OSDH will email a link to its Vaccine Scheduler Portal. Here’s a video with more information on the portal.
• Visit walmart.com, samsclub.com or cvs.com to schedule an appointment at one of their pharmacies.
• Find an independent pharmacy, tribal vaccination site or another location offering vaccine appointments.

Remember: Vaccines are provided to you at no cost by the federal government, although you may be asked for your insurance information if you’re insured. Be wary of scams offering vaccines or vaccine appointments for money.

All three authorized vaccines virtually eliminate the chance for hospitalization due to COVID-19, and drastically reduce the chance of even a minor or moderate infection.

More than 1 million doses of vaccine have already been safely administered in Oklahoma, according to OSDH.

Public health data shows infection and hospitalization rates have plummeted across the metro as vaccinations roll out.

Read more about the vaccines from the CDC here.

This press release was produced by the City of Oklahoma City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.