Who will be first in Ohio to get COVID vaccine? State releases plan – The Cincinnati Enquirer

The first patient to receive a dose in the coronavirus vaccine study at UC Health was Jarelle Marshall, 37, an IT professional who lives in Cincinnati. The first dose on Aug. was administered via syringe by a licensed pharmacist, and study participants will receive a second dose in approximately one month.(Photo: UC Health)

COLUMBUS A COVID-19 vaccine is likely months away for most Ohioans, but Ohio officials have already submitted a plan for how to distribute it.

Ohio will prioritize high-risk healthcare workers, first responders and elderly and at-risk Ohioans in nursing homes and other congregate care settings in the first phase of distribution, according to a plan submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Enquirer obtained the draft through a public records request.

The plan is marked "final draft" and is subject to change. Ohio Department of Health spokeswoman Melanie Amato said the draft plan provides a framework for decision-making when more details of a vaccineare known.

A handful of novel coronavirus vaccines are in phase III trials, including in Cincinnatiand Columbus. Vaccines are expected to be in short supply when first available.

The plan describes a system where state officials order the vaccine for the entire state and ship to counties and health care providers based on several factors, including population and the estimated immunity among residents.

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As more vaccine becomes available, in phase two, distribution would broaden to essential workers at high risk of exposure, school teachers and staff, older Ohioans and people with underlying health conditions that put them at risk of complications from the virus. Minority populations, which have disproportionately been hospitalized or died after getting the novel coronavirus, could be prioritized.

The plan does not set a time line for when each group could get the vaccine, just when there are a large number of doses available, supply likely to meet demand for the second phase and then likely sufficient supply, slowing demand for the general public.

Texas plan similarly split everyone in three phases and estimated the third phase would begin in July 2021.

Ohio plans to partner with existing organizations, health care providers and employers to target each group.An estimated 2,000-5,000 providers are expected to enroll as pandemic vaccine providers.

The plan shows health officials are still working on many details, such as how to keep a vaccine cold throughout the supply chain. Ohio officialsare identifying sub-176 degree Fahrenheit freezers at hospitals, research facilities and other locations across the state; some may need extra security "because of the scarcity of the vaccine."

Officials want to display immunization progress by countyand immunization locations on the state's coronavirus website.

Read the 55-page plan below.

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Who will be first in Ohio to get COVID vaccine? State releases plan - The Cincinnati Enquirer

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