Larger vaccine shipment to Ohio expected

Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday when the state receives its first shipment of the coronavirus vaccine it will include 98,000 doses, more than three times the original estimate. It may arrive about December 15 if the US Food and Drug Administration gives Pfizer the final approval needed to begin distribution.

At his briefing Thursday, DeWine said he will provide details on Friday about how and when the vaccine will be distributed around the state. He had spoken earlier about giving nurses, doctors and nursing home workers top priority for the vaccine.

Just as the state is planning for distribution of the vaccine, another challenge has developed that threatens hospitals around the state.

There are so many coronavirus cases now that hospital intensive care units are being filled with an increasing numbers of covid-19 patients.

“In those intensive care units, one out of every three patients has COVID,” said Dr. Andy Thomas, of the OSU Wexner Medical Center.

In fact, so many hospitals have seen a surge of COVID-19 patients that some non-emergency surgeries have been stopped temporarily.

“This is going to have an impact and fallout for routine health care,” said Dr. Nora Colburn, also of the OSU Wexner Medical Center.

Gov. DeWine has scheduled a briefing on the vaccine distribution plan for Friday at 2pm.

He said Ohioans should continue to change their behavior to slow the spread of the virus and take some of the pressure off of hospitals and medical workers.

“People need to stay home and when they’re out wear a mask,” DeWine said.

Cox Media Group