vaccines

Doctors blame a range of misinformation and myths for the reasons why more Ohioans are not getting COVID vaccines right now. And health leaders say more people still need to get vaccinated in order to prevent pockets where the virus can be a bigger problem.

After drawing the name two days ago, Ohio will announce the winner of the state's first vaccine lottery tonight at 7:29pm.

Coronavirus vaccinations will expand to include Ohio residents over 50 years of age, those with Type 2 diabetes and those with end-stage renal disease starting Thursday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday.

Gov. Mike DeWine plans to begin vaccinating people by age in the second phase of distribution and will add school personnel to try to get students back in class by the beginning of March.

4,856 Ohioans in nursing homes and long term care facilities have died of COVID-19, well over half of the state’s overall COVID death total. Gov. Mike DeWine has said the virus has often been brought in by staff, and yet many of those workers have not taken the vaccine.

Gov. Mike DeWine said the next phase of Ohio's coronavirus vaccine distribution is expected to begin in two weeks, but the state is still dealing with a lack of supplies and concerns about eligible recipients refusing to be vaccinated.

As Ohio continues with the first phase of its vaccination plan, recent data analysis from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation suggests universal mask-wearing may have a bigger impact in lowering the state’s death toll.

The City of Cleveland is rolling out the first phase of its coronavirus vaccine distribution plan. The initial round will begin Thursday with a focus on EMTs, firefighters and Airport Fire & Rescue workers.

Cuyahoga County’s health board is expected to begin administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 21, to emergency medical services (EMS) responders, as well as residents and staff of group homes, health officials said in a press conference Friday.

Ohio moved past 8,000 confirmed and probable deaths from COVID-19 over the weekend. And around 4,500 Ohio health care workers and nursing home residents and staff have gotten a first dose of the vaccine to protect them from the coronavirus.