‘I want to be an example:’ Rocking Horse center’s oldest patient gets COVID vaccine

The Rocking Horse Community Health Center on Friday gave a COVID-19 vaccination to their oldest patient.

Hazel Carter, 98, said she knew from the moment vaccine rollout began in January that she wanted to receive a shot.

“Well there are a lot of reasons why, but the big reason is the six children I still have with me, the 25 grandchildren, many grand and many great-grandchildren, I want to be an example for them,” Carter said.

Outside of her family, Carter said she hopes to inspire other community members to be vaccinated by showing that the shots are safe.

Carter’s granddaughter, Nettie Carter-Smith, director of community relations for Rocking Horse, said previously she got the vaccine so she could spend time with her grandmother.

She was with her when she received her first dose of the vaccine on Friday morning.

Carter-Smith is featured in a video produced by the Clark County Combined Health District featuring prominent members of the Black community encouraging people of color to get vaccinated.

“I miss having dinner with my 98-year-old grandmother,” Carter-Smith says in the video to explain her reason for getting the vaccine. “I have not had dinner with her since March 12, 2020. I just want to be able to sit down and have a meal with her.”

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Carter-Smith called her grandmother the “matriarch,” of their family and said she looks forward to the two having dinner together safely soon.

To schedule a vaccination appointment at Rocking Horse, located at 651 S. Limestone St., residents can contact 937-525-4521.

Rocking Horse offers the COVID-19 vaccine by appointment only. The health center’s patients take priority.

Valid identification and insurance information are also collected, but no one will be turned away due to insurance status.

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