DeWine announces plan for next phase of COVID-19 vaccine distribution

Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday announced plans to begin distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to more groups of Ohioans later this month, starting with those ages 80 and older (Souce: “DeWine announces new distribution steps,” Youngstown Vindicator, Jan. 8).

In addition to Ohioans who are older, school employees also will be able to get the vaccine.

Vaccinations continue now in nursing homes and among front-line healthcare workers. This includes healthcare workers and personnel routinely involved in the care of COVID-19 patients, emergency medical responders and those who live and/or work in congregate settings, such as nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.

DeWine said the age 80 and older group includes up to 450,000 residents, and the vaccinations may come from several sources, including physicians, hospitals and local health departments. He said he expects to have roughly 100,000 doses for elderly Ohioans over the first several weeks.

On Friday, the Ohio Department of Health reported 9,535 additional positive tests for COVID-19 in Ohio, bringing the statewide total since the start of the pandemic to 762,603. Death reports from COVID-19 rose by 82 on Friday, bringing the total to 9,544 deaths of Ohioans with COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.