Ohio’s long-term care facilities and nursing homes started receiving COVID-19 vaccines today (Dec. 18), Walgreens said in a press release.
The pharmacy store chain began their project in which they plan to administer the vaccines to roughly 3 million residents and staff members working in long-term care facilities throughout the nation. The vaccine roll-out is part of the CDC Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program; Walgreens, CVS, PharmScript, and Absolute Pharmacy are part of the plan.
We are so grateful to @Walgreens, @CVSHealth, @PharmScriptLLC, and @AbsolutePharmacy for their work to vaccinate Ohio’s nursing home residents and caregivers! #InThisTogetherOhio pic.twitter.com/ZVHlrLS4TW
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) December 18, 2020
According to a release from Walgreens, they will work with around 800 long-term facilities across 13 states this week, offering care to both urban and rural underserved areas.
“Walgreens is very proud to be a part of this historic milestone to begin administering Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to our most vulnerable populations,” said John Standley, president, Walgreens in the press release.
“With more than a decade of experience administering various vaccines, we have the deep expertise to support this unprecedented effort to allow our nation to emerge from this pandemic.”
Residents in Parma, Georgetown and Sandusky, Ohio were among the first to receive vaccines today.
This Vietnam War Veteran was among the first to receive a #COVID19 vaccination today at our @OhioVets home in Georgetown! We are so grateful to our veterans, our #OhioVets staff, and those giving the vaccinations today! #InThisTogetherOhio pic.twitter.com/tF3d4U6YKu
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) December 18, 2020
According to Ohio’s vaccine plan (based on recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine), the first doses to arrive in the state will go to:
- Healthcare providers and personnel who are routinely involved with the care of COVID-19 patients.
- Residents and staff at nursing facilities.
- Residents and staff at assisted living facilities.
- Patients and staff at psychiatric hospitals.
- People with intellectual disabilities and those with mental illness who in group homes or centers and staff at those locations.
- Residents and staff of Ohio’s veterans homes.
- EMS responders.
Per a release from the governor’s office: “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.”
You can see Ohio’s current vaccine plan at coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination-program.
This article appears in The Holiday Issue.