After receiving his first COVID-19 vaccination dose, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine held his normal Tuesday news conference this afternoon to provide updates on the state’s response to the pandemic.
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The following announcements were made:
- DeWine announced that 89 percent of the skilled nursing facilities have received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The state has 920 skilled nursing facilities.
- The state has 645 assisted living facilities with first doses being given in 86 percent of these facilities and second doses in 48 percent.
- Dr. Vanderhoff announced that Walgreens may have mistakenly given vaccinations that were not stored properly at five nursing homes in the state. Walgreens communicated this to the CDC immediately after discovering issues with the storage of the vaccines in ultra cold settings. Those impacted will have to get re-vaccinated, but there is no known harm from the issue, Vanderhoff said. All of the facilities that were impacted are in northeast Ohio and include: Ashtabula Co Residential Services Corp “The Maples” in Kingsville, Ashtabula Towers in Ashtabula, Heather Hill Care Communities in Chardon, Six Chimneys om East Cleveland, and Willow Park Convalescent Home in Cleveland.
- The state is planning to have pop-up vaccination sites in areas that include under served populations. Those will be announced as they are arranged.
- DeWine said the state has intentionally chosen not to do larger vaccination sites like those seen in other states. “Some states have had bigger vaccination sites but in fewer locations. We recruited a network of providers so that Ohioans would have access to vaccine close to home,” DeWine said.
- The Minority Health Vaccine Advisory Group will begin holding a series of virtual town halls to help gain a better understanding of the barriers to vaccination to help develop solutions. These will be live streamed the week of Feb. 22 on coronavirus.ohio.gov.
- Beginning next week, the state will host six vaccine events in senior affordable housing complexes in the state. Exact locations were not immediately announced.
- The Governor said he hopes to have more information Thursday on the state’s partnership with the private sector in regard to unemployment issues.
Cox Media Group
