WILMINGTON, Ohio —Governor Mike DeWine is optimistic as he delivers a pep talk at Wilmington Air Park. The air hub is one of two Southwest Ohio locations hosting large-scale vaccination clinics.

“It's really exciting because people who are getting the shots are excited," the governor said. "They’re excited to see their grandparents their excited to see their mother.”

The governor says over 3.6 million Ohioans have gotten at least the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, almost one-third of the state.

Erica Taylor was in line at 9 a.m. to receive her one-shot Johnson and Johnson inoculation.

“I’m ready to get back to life, knowing that my family will be safe,” Taylor said. She is looking forward to celebrating Easter with her family. “They feel safe now that they have it, and I think I am going to be like that.”

Over the last three days, 2500 people were vaccinated at two large-scale Southwest Ohio events staffed by Kroger pharmacists.

Erin Rolfes, of Kroger, said the grocer has been actively serving the region since the beginning of the pandemic.

“Our core values are honesty, integrity, safety and this effort really touches on all of those," Rolfes said. "We are helping folks return to normal life and get that sense of normalcy back.”

First-year college student Mikaela Tipton is anxious to start the next phase of her life.

“I missed projects and classes, and I was really anxious for hanging out with my friends, going on trips,” Tipton said.

Doctor Kendall Leser is optimistic about Ohio’s vaccine rollout.

“Once more and more people getting the vaccine becomes more normalized, the willingness to get the vaccine will increase across the population,” Leser said.

With thousands rolling up their sleeves across the state, DeWine said Ohioans can't let up and Ohio has come a long way but still has to fight. “It’s a race, so the faster we can vaccinate people, the better off we are going to be.”

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