![The first thing Frank Cimino will do after getting his second shot is give his grandkids a big hug and kiss, he said. Cimino received his shot on the first official day of the mass vaccination clinic in Cleveland. [Gabriel Kramer / ideastream]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9e05138/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2392+0+0/resize/840x670!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F3%2F17%2FIMG_3514%20%281%29.JPG)
Frank Cimino hasn鈥檛 seen his grandchildren in about a year.
The Parma resident got his first COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, and he said the first thing he鈥檚 doing after he gets his second shot is giving his grandkids a big hug and a kiss.
鈥淚 miss my grandbabies something fierce,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne more shot and I can spend time with my grandkids, I can spend time with my children. It鈥檚 a relief.鈥�
Family was on many minds as people exited the Wolstein Center, Cleveland鈥檚 mass vaccination site, after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday.
"I just love hugging my family," said Wihletta McGowan, who had just gotten the vaccine and was looking forward to hugs to come after the second dose. [Gabriel Kramer / ideastream]
鈥淚 want to be around my family, I want to hug my granddaughter. I just miss family gatherings,鈥� said Wihletta McGowan, who had just been vaccinated.
鈥淭his whole past year has felt like I was living in the Twilight Zone, a never-ending episode of the Twilight Zone,鈥� she said.
Mary Vicic of Euclid had tears in her eyes as she thought about the 15 months she鈥檚 gone without seeing her grandson.
鈥淚 want to go see my grandson, and until we鈥檙e all vaccinated that鈥檚 not an option, so one more month and I鈥檒l get to go see him,鈥� Vicic said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 little, he鈥檚 not even five yet.鈥�
Vicic, McGowan, Cimino and many others getting vaccinated at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University described an easy process from start to finish.
鈥淎ctually, I was surprised by how smooth it went,鈥� Vicic said. 鈥淚 was expecting that whole auditorium to be full of people. I walked right in, I got my shot within two minutes of sitting down. It went very quick and very smooth. Everyone鈥檚 super friendly.鈥�
鈥淚t was very efficient. It went off without a hitch actually,鈥� McGowan said. 鈥淭hey brought me right on through the line, no wait.鈥�
McGowan has a wheelchair, and she said she had no trouble with accessibility. The center has a separate entrance for people with mobility issues. Wheelchairs are provided for those who need them.
The main entrance is Gate B at the Wolstein Center. [Gabriel Kramer / ideastream]
Cimino had been trying to get a shot for a long time, because he has health problems that could cause him to be hospitalized for any infection. His daughter, Amanda, helped him find his appointment at the Wolstein Center.
鈥淔or almost a month, I was trying to get an appointment, and I couldn鈥檛 get one nowhere,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o [Amanda] was helping me and she helped me get an appointment here at the Wolstein Center, thank God.鈥�
Many others echoed the relief they felt at finding an appointment and having such an easy time getting the shot.
鈥淥nce this place opened up, I was able to get in right away,鈥� said Jo Lanham, a Cleveland resident. 鈥淸It was] very orderly, very pleasant, I couldn鈥檛 think of a thing they can do better.鈥�
Vicic said that while her experience was quick and easy, it might not be that way for others who go when there are more appointments scheduled.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 just because it鈥檚 not super crowded today,鈥� she said.
The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day for the next eight weeks.
People can sign up for an appointment by visiting the state鈥檚 and typing in the Wolstein Center's address 鈥� 2000 Prospect Ave. 鈥� or by calling 833-427-5634. For additional assistance, Cuyahoga County residents can call the United Way鈥檚 211 phone line.
