CLEVELAND, Ohio — In the battle to thwart COVID-19, the numbers so far are positive for Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center mass vaccination clinic, said Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish.

What You Need To Know

  • Since opening three weeks ago, Cleveland’s Wolstein Center has vaccinated more than 120,000 people, with 458,000 of them receiving at least one dose

  • Sign-up will soon begin for residents to receive the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which will be administered in the final two-weeks the clinic is operation

  • Since the center opened, the numbers of vaccinated residents in Black and Brown neighborhoods are rising

  • FEMA has launched a program to help pay funerals costs for those who died of COVID-19

Families also can receive assistance to pay funerals costs for loved ones who died of COVID-19 through a federal program launching Monday, April 12.

Since opening three weeks ago, the Wolstein Center has provided vaccinations to more than 120,000 people, with 458,000 of them receiving at least one dose, he said. That represents 37% of the county’s population.

Second doses of the vaccine are being administered now, he said. And sign-up will soon begin for residents to receive the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which will be administered during the final two-weeks the eight-week clinic is operation.

Although minorities are still underserved, the numbers of vaccinated residents in Black and Brown neighborhoods are rising substantially since the Wolstein Center clinic opeened, he said. 

The Central and Kinsman neighborhoods are up more than 70% since Wolstein opened, while Collinwood is up 80% and Fairfax is up 92%, he said.

“Now, there's still a long way to go, but the trend is in the right direction,” Budish said on Friday during a streamed COVID-19 update.

Cuyahoga County has more than 100 clinics up and running, and appointments can be made by calling the United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline, which is open seven days a week, he said.

However, more than 20,000 Cuyahoga County residents have died of COVID-19, Budish said, with 560,000 dead nationwide.

To assist families, on Monday, April 12, FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program will open, helping pay funeral costs for a family member who died of COVID-19. 

“If you've lost a loved one, to compound the pain and grief the cost of a funeral and burial can also create terrible hardships,” Budish said.

The funeral program will pay up to $9,000 toward funeral and burial or cremation costs, and is retroactive to Jan. 20, 2020.

Families must have receipts for the funeral expenses, as well as a death certificate, that indicates the death happened in the U.S. and the likely cause was COVID-19, he said.

“Most people are not aware that this program even exists,” Budish said. “I hope you'll never need it. But if you're eligible, don't miss out.”

Under the program, the federal aid will be reduced by any amount received from insurance or another federal program.

There is no requirement that the deceased be a U.S. citizen.

To apply, call 844-684-6333.

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