Ohio steps up Covid jab transit

Courtesy of Its International
By Ben Spencer
April 16, 2021

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (Cota) has delivered more than 16,300 transit passes to nearly 43 non-profit organisations to get people to Covid-19 vaccination centres for free.

Cota says the passes will be distributed to people in need to provide access to and from any vaccine location in its service area.

The non-profits which received the transit passes include Equitas Health, Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center, Columbus Urban League and Communities in Schools of Ohio.

Additionally, the authority is setting out to address any transportation needs to any vaccine location site in its service area.

For example, Cota has provided transportation assistance to people in underserved communities who were scheduled to be vaccinated at the pop-up mass vaccination clinic at St. Johns Arena.

Riders could book or schedule a Cota Mainstream On-Demand vehicle for single-passenger trips to and from St. Johns Arena by phone.

Those living in Westerville, Grove City and Columbus could hitch a ride on the Cota//Plus vehicles to any vaccination site within their defined zone.

Users could hail this door to door service via the Cota//Plus app or by calling the customer care hotline. Each vehicle could carry up to eight passengers.

As part of the commitment, Cota partnered with volunteer group Columbus Stand Up! to provide complimentary transportation for people living in underserved communities to any Columbus vaccination site seven days a week.