COVID-19 Vaccines: 2.2 Million Ohioans To Get Shots In Next Phase

COLUMBUS, OH — Nearly 2.2 million Ohioans will receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the next phase of distribution, Gov. Mike DeWine announced this week.

The state is currently in phase 1A of its vaccine distribution plan. Currently, the vaccine is available to health care workers, residents and staff at nursing homes, patients and staff at assisted living facilities, and patients and staff at psychiatric hospitals. Approximately 1 million Ohioans can receive the vaccine in phase 1A.

As the first phase of distribution winds down, Ohio will move into phase 1B of its vaccine distribution plan. The primary target of the second phase will Ohioans who are 65 and older.

"Those in this age group are most vulnerable to COVID-19 and make up more than 87 percent of Ohioans who have died from the virus," DeWine's office said in a statement.

Also, during phase 1B, school teachers and school staff will be offered the vaccine. DeWine said this will hopefully allow more schools to return to in-person education.

Phase 1B should begin as phase 1A winds down. DeWine has indicated the next groups of Ohioans could begin receiving vaccines in the next four weeks.

Ohio is currently receiving approximately 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines per week, according to state officials. If additional vaccines are approved by the FDA in the future, that number could increase.

While vaccine distribution is underway, full distribution will take time. And Ohio's hospitals are still strained from the recent surge in cases, said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, the chief medical officer of the Ohio Department of Health.

"Our hospitals are extremely busy and we haven't yet begun to see what the impact may be from the holiday. We have a lot of road ahead and we can't forget COVID-19 safety," Vanderhoff noted.

He added that Ohio's current hospitalization level is three times what it was on Nov. 1 and seven times what it was on Oct. 1.