Pandemic Vaccine News & Updates
March 18, 2021
New groups eligible for vaccination – As vaccine supply continues to increase in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine announced Tuesday, March 16, expanded eligibility for Ohioans.
Phase 2C, effective March 19, extends age-based vaccine eligibility to age 40 and older. This opens vaccination to approximately 818,000 additional Ohioans.
Phase 1E, effective March 11, includes 766,000 Ohioans not eligible under Ohio’s age-based approach to vaccine eligibility with the following underlying medical conditions.
Cancer.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Heart disease.
Obesity.
Phase 2D, effective March 29, extends vaccine eligibility to Ohioans ages 16 and older.
With parental or legal guardian consent, individuals ages 16 and 17 will be eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, which is the only COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized for use with people under age 18.
Target population/occupation (TP/O) forms have been updated to reflect the additional eligible populations. Click to access the checklist and the codes.
Vaccine Management Solution scheduling – The Vaccine Management Solution (VMS) scheduling website launched to the public March 8. Beginning the week of March 22, providers are required to either complete vaccinations using this system or an electronic health record (EHR) that interfaces with the system in a manner that allows direct booking from VMS. This will streamline the experience, reduce data lags, and provide real-time information on vaccination progress at the state and county level.
To receive an account activation link, providers receiving allocations must first log in to their OHID account to complete the Vaccine Provider Locations form. Step-by-step instructions for adding or updating information are available on the ODH website on the VMS training page.
Vaccine providers who are receiving allocations and have completed the form but have not received an invitation to join VMS are asked to call the ODH Provider Call Center at 1-844-9ODHVAX (1-844-963-4829) or email [email protected]
VMS training resources are available on the COVID-19 Vaccine Providers page.
VMS 411 sessions take place every Wednesday and Friday, from 3-4 p.m.
• Join online using Microsoft Teams: http://bit.ly/OhioVMA411
• Join by phone: 872-215-2965
• Phone conference ID: 739 278 746#
• One-click dial by phone: +1 872-215-2965, 739278746#
Mass vaccination sites – The mass vaccination site at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center is now open. The site will incrementally increase the number of vaccines administered to be able to offer 6,000 doses per day, 7 days per week. The Wolstein Center location was recommended by Ohio and selected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) based on its proximity to a large number of people at increased risk, and medically underserved populations. To ensure equitable access to the vaccine for underserved and socially vulnerable populations, more than 300 local community groups are partnering with the state to help schedule appointments for those who face vaccination barriers.
o Columbus and Cincinnati pop-up clinics will be held March 18-21 and April 8-11 at St. John Arena at Ohio State University and March 18-20 and April 8-10 at the Cintas Center at Xavier University.
o Mobile clinics will distribute vaccine in four regions: northwest/west-central Ohio, southeast Ohio, north-central Ohio, and east-central Ohio.
o Mass vaccination clinics will operate in Akron, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Lima, Marietta, Maumee, Wilmington, Youngstown, and Zanesville.