Vaccinations Begin in Ohio

Article from the Ohio Development Services Agency BusinessHelp email (12/18/20).

Governor Mike DeWine announced Monday that the first COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered in Ohio. Shipments of 975 doses were delivered Monday morning to both The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus and UC Health in Cincinnati. Several health care workers and personnel who are routinely involved with the care of COVID-19 patients immediately received vaccinations.

"It was such a moment of hope to watch the health care workers begin to get vaccinated today," Governor DeWine said. "Today is the first day of a process that will continue over the months ahead as Ohioans who choose to be vaccinated have their opportunity to receive the vaccine. However, until the vaccine is widely available for all Ohioans who choose to receive it, we must continue to use all available tools to prevent the spread of the virus, like wearing a mask, keeping your distance, and washing your hands."

Seven more hospitals in Ohio received their first vaccine shipments Tuesday, bringing the total number of vaccine doses delivered to Ohio on Monday and Tuesday to 98,475.

Governor DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine were present for the delivery of the vaccine shipment to Mercy Health Springfield Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, and Lt. Governor Jon Husted visited OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus as it received its first delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.

In addition to those hospitals, COVID-19 vaccine shipments of 975 doses apiece were also delivered to:

• Mercy Health St. Vincent Hospital, Lucas County
• Cleveland Clinic, Cuyahoga County
• Metro Health Medical Center, Cuyahoga County
• Aultman Hospital, Stark County
• Genesis Hospital, Muskingum County

An additional 975-dose shipment was delivered Tuesday to OhioHealth Riverside Hospital for use at OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital in Athens.

All the hospitals were selected based on geography, population, and access to ultra-cold storage capacity.

Although vaccine supplies are currently limited, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has advised that Ohio will continue to receive vaccinations throughout the month of December. Next week, Ohio is expected to receive 123,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, as well as 201,900 doses of the Moderna vaccine. During the week of New Year’s, Ohio is expected to receive an additional 148,000 Pfizer vaccines and an additional 89,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

As COVID-19 vaccines continue to arrive in Ohio, Cardinal Health’s OptiFreight Logistics business will help provide same-day delivery services. Once the vaccine is widely available, this partnership will allow Ohio to ship the vaccine to approximately 350 locations across the state.