Ohio is preparing to distribute safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines statewide to those who choose to be vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine development process included steps comparable with those used to develop previous vaccines, such as the flu or measles vaccine. As COVID-19 vaccines progress through the thorough process to obtain emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the state will start to strategically and thoughtfully distribute the vaccines to Ohioans most at risk. This distribution will be guided by recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).
Ohio’s goals are clear: To save lives and slow the spread of the virus. In the early vaccination phase, we focus on the most at risk, as well as distributing the vaccines as quickly as we can to essential healthcare workers and personnel caring for COVID-19 patients.
Priority will be given to vulnerable individuals who live in close proximity and those who care for them.
- Healthcare workers and personnel, who are routinely involved in the care of COVID-19 patients
- Residents and staff in nursing homes
- Residents and staff in assisted living facilities
- Patients and staff at state psychiatric hospitals
- People with intellectual disabilities and those with mental illness, who live in group homes or centers, and staff at those locations
- Residents and staff at our two homes for Ohio veterans
- EMS responders
The vaccine has been shown to prevent COVID-19and to decrease the severity of illness in people who catch this virus. Vaccinating a significant portion of Ohioans will help prevent serious hospitalizations and deaths, and return to normal.
Using all the tools available to help prevent the spread of the virus continues to be critical until a substantial number of Ohioans can be vaccinated. Continuing to wear masks and social distance will reduce your chance of being exposed to or spreading the virus. Proper prevention measures coupled with the vaccine will provide the best protection from COVID-19.
As vaccine supply increases, the state will continue to vaccinate Ohioans who choose to receive it.
For additional information, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov.