Phases of Vaccine Distribution
Phase 1B of Ohio’s vaccination distribution started on January 19th. Here are some important dates to know regarding the vaccination of Ohioans with disabilities:
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Jan. 25, 2021, is when vaccination scheduling started for those with a developmental or intellectual disability AND one of the conditions: cerebral palsy; spina bifida; severe congenital heart disease requiring hospitalization within the past year; severe type 1 diabetes requiring hospitalization within the past year; inherited metabolic disorders including phenylketonuria; severe neurological disorders including epilepsy, hydrocephaly, and microcephaly; severe genetic disorders including Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Turner syndrome, and muscular dystrophy; severe lung disease, including asthma requiring hospitalization within the past year, and cystic fibrosis; sickle cell anemia; and alpha and beta-thalassemia; and solid organ transplant patients.
County boards of developmental disabilities should have reached out to individuals to coordinate vaccination if you are already receiving services from their county board and it knows that you meet the criteria to qualify for the vaccine.
If an individual has not been contacted or does not receive services through a board of developmental disabilities, the individual must reach out to the board in your county to coordinate their vaccination. A directory of county boards can be found on the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities' “Find Your County Board” page.
The board will work with a children’s hospital or a local health department to schedule your vaccination appointment.
Vaccinations will only be given at local health departments or participating children’s hospitals in conjunction with the local boards. Individuals who qualify are asked NOT to their local pharmacy for scheduling or vaccination.
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Feb. 15, 2021, is when Ohioans with severe congenital, developmental, or early-onset, and inherited conditions including cerebral palsy; spina bifida; severe congenital heart disease requiring hospitalization within the past year; severe type 1 diabetes requiring hospitalization within the past year; inherited metabolic disorders including phenylketonuria; severe neurological disorders including epilepsy, hydrocephaly, and microcephaly; severe genetic disorders including Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Turner syndrome, and muscular dystrophy; severe lung disease, including asthma requiring hospitalization within the past year, and cystic fibrosis; sickle cell anemia; and alpha and beta-thalassemia; and solid organ transplant patients. This differs from the first group in that these individuals do NOT have a developmental or intellectual disability that coincides with the conditions listed.
Please note: Information is still forthcoming regarding those who have a qualifying congenital, early-onset, or inherited condition (without a developmental or intellectual disability) who will begin being vaccinated on Feb. 15. Please refer individuals with disabilities who fit into either of these categories to their local county health departments for more information on how to schedule their vaccine.
Note: Vaccine recipients must be age 16 or older to be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, and age 18 or older to be eligible for the Moderna vaccine. [1]
Also note: Not all people with disabilities are covered under these two vaccination distribution categories during phase 1B. Those people with disabilities who are not covered under phase 1B will hopefully be covered under one of the upcoming phases of distribution. Please refer to the Ohio Department of Health’s Coronavirus web page or your local county health department website to find more information on who will be covered in the upcoming phases and ensure you are prepared to relay that information to persons with disabilities who qualify as necessary.
