Governor DeWine addressed the state on Friday, December 4, in a press conference, sharing information about vaccine distribution in Ohio.
Initially, there will be a limited number of vaccines available, and Ohio is committed to making it widely available for those who want to receive it as quickly as possible as shipments arrive.
In conjunction with the recommendations of medical experts from ACIP and NAESM, Ohio has identified who will be among the first to receive those very early shipments in Phase 1A, should they choose to be vaccinated:
- Healthcare providers and personnel who are routinely involved with the care of COVID-19 patients.
- Residents and staff at nursing facilities.
- Residents and staff at assisted living facilities.
- Patients and staff at psychiatric hospitals.
- People with intellectual disabilities and those with mental illness who in group homes or centers and staff at those locations o Residents and staff of Ohio’s veterans homes.
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EMS responders.
Phase 1 Distribution
The federal government has advised that the Ohio Department of Health will not know the exact number of vaccines that will be shipped to Ohio until closer to each shipment date. The current shipment figures, which are subject to change, are as follows:
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On or around December 15, a shipment from Pfizer will include 9,750 vaccines for Ohio's prepositioned hospital sites. An additional 88,725 vaccines will go to Walgreens and CVS for congregate care settings.
- On or around December 22, a shipment of 201,000 vaccines is expected from Moderna. These vaccines will go to 98 hospitals for vaccination of those who are exposed to COVID patients and to 108 health departments to vaccinate other frontline workers such as those working in emergency medical services.
- On or around December 22, another shipment is also expected from Pfizer. The tentative number of vaccines in this shipment is 123,000. These vaccines will go to Walgreens and CVS for vaccination of those in congregate care settings.
- A few days later, Ohio expects another 148,000 vaccines from Pfizer and 89,000 vaccines from Moderna.
Guidance
Frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine:
Q: How will I know that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe?
A: The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. Safety is a top priority while federal partners work to make a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine(s) available. Clinical trials study the effectiveness of the vaccine in thousands of study participants. Data from these trials will be provided to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine vaccine safety and effectiveness. The FDA uses rigorous standards during the evaluation and if it determines that a vaccine meets its safety and effectiveness requirements, it can make these available by approval or emergency use authorization. After FDA makes its determination, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will review available data before making final vaccine recommendations to the CDC. There have been no shortcuts in the vaccine development process. The COVID-19 vaccine development process involved several steps comparable with those used to develop other vaccines, such as the flu or measles vaccine.
Q: Will Ohio make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory?
A: No.
Q: Who is paying for the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: The federal government is committed to providing free or low-cost COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine doses purchased with taxpayer dollars will be given to Ohioans who choose to receive them at no cost.
Resources
Information and Resources
COVID CareLine: Call 1-800-720-9616 to connect with a behavioral health professional from 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days per week. After 8 PM, the CareLine will forward to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
DODD has a dedicated web page for department communications and links to helpful resources.
For specific questions about COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov, call your local health department, or call the Ohio Department of Health's COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-427-5634.
