State troubleshoots vaccine distribution issue
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Department of Health will be issuing a directive requiring coronavirus vaccine providers to develop a surplus vaccine redistribution plan, the state announced in a news release.
The directive follows a recent incident in which a long-term care facility in Ohio overestimated the number of vaccine doses needed for residents and staff, the Jan. 8 news release stated.
Seven vials of vaccine (35 doses) were not administered and expired, the news release said. “Every vaccine dose that Ohio receives must be administered,” Governor Dewine said in a statement.
“Each vaccine represents a potential life saved, and it is our obligation to ensure that not a single dose is wasted,” he said.
Vaccine redistribution plans will prioritize recipients based on Phase 1A and 1B vaccine distribution criteria.
If a significant number of doses remain, vaccine providers must contact the Ohio Department of Health for immediate redistribution assistance.
Also, Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Chief Medical Officer for the Ohio Department of Health, provided information related to the coronavirus variation that was first seen in the United Kingdom.
“Although virus variations are normal, and most do not impact the behavior of a virus, this variation is notable because it appears to be more contagious than other variants of the coronavirus,” said Dr. Vanderhoff.
“Fortunately, this variant doesn’t appear to be more severe or to impact those who are already immune, but it worries us because a more contagious variant could lead to more people getting sick, more people being hospitalized, and more people dying,” he said.
As of Jan. 5, Ohio had three times the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations that it had on November 1 and nearly seven times the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations that it had on October 1.
Dr. Vanderhoff stressed the importance of continuing Ohio’s coronavirus protocols of social distancing, avoiding crowds, washing hands, wearing masks, and accepting the vaccine when available to prevent the spread of all variants of the coronavirus and to prevent further increases in hospitalizations.