Gov. DeWine outlines plan for first distributions of COVID-19 vaccine

The State of Ohio is expecting to receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines by Dec. 15 with additional shipments coming by Dec. 22, Gov. Mike DeWine said during a news conference Friday.

By the end of the month, the state is expected to have nearly 660,000 vaccines from both Pfizer and Moderna and will begin a phased approach of distributing them, DeWine said.

>>RELATED: 98,000 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine expected in first week in Ohio

DeWine said the vaccine distribution plan has three main priorities: Save lives, slow the spread of the virus, and make sure healthcare workers are protected.

The vaccine’s distribution will be prioritized and distributed to three groups in the first phase as the state receives vaccine doses:

• Healthcare workers
• First responders
• Vulnerable individuals living in close proximity to others and those who care for them.

Around Dec. 15, the first shipment will be sent from Pfizer with their vaccine, pending official approval, DeWine said. Around 98,000 doses will be sent to the state with 88,725 doses being sent to congregate care settings. The remaining 9,750 doses from the first shipment will go to hospitals, DeWine said.

Additional shipments from Pfizer and Moderna are expected later in the month. On Dec. 22, a second shipment is expected from Pfizer with another 123,000 vaccines. Most of that batch will go to Walgreens and CVS for vaccination of those in congregate care settings, DeWine said.

Also around Dec. 22, 201,000 vaccines from Moderna will arrive in Ohio. This batch will go to 98 hospitals and 108 health departments.

A few days after Dec. 22, two more shipments are expected, 148,000 vaccines from Pfizer and 89,900 from Moderna.

DeWine added that news from the federal government indicates the exact number of vaccine doses will be made more clear closer to the time the shipments are coming.

DeWine committed to receiving the vaccine himself, but said he’ll wait for his turn. He praised former Presidents Bush, Obama, and Clinton who committed earlier this week to take the vaccine and would do so on camera.

DeWine said its too soon to determine when the general population will have the vaccine available for their use.

Also addressed during the briefing:

• Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, the Ohio Department of Health’s Chief Medical officer addressed the new guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New guidance released this week allows for two options after a potential COVID-19 exposure. A 10-day quarantine option that does not require testing, provided there are no symptoms. And a 7-day quarantine option with a negative test and no symptoms.

Other news in the coronavirus pandemic:

• Ohio releases vaccine distribution plan once approved by FDA
• Larger COVID-19 vaccine shipment to Ohio expected
• DeWine vetoes bill that aimed to block future stay at home orders
• Miamisburg company’s filtration product shown to eliminate COVID-19 virus
• CDC says there are 2 choices for holiday travel: Stay home or have 2 COVID-19 tests
• CDC shortens quarantine from 14 to 10 days, 7 with negative test
• Coronavirus vaccine: Where, when, how do I get it?
• Area hospital networks to use new COVID-19 antibody treatment

Cox Media Group