Vaccination – Who Are Vaccinating Now & Who’s Next: The Union County Health Department is holding a third closed COVID-19 vaccination clinic for organizations and agencies located within Union County who meet Ohio’s Phase 1a criteria. This week’s clinic is focusing on residents and staff of residential facilities and group homes for persons with developmental disabilities or mental health disorders located within Union County. This clinic remains open to EMS and non-hospital healthcare providers routinely providing care to sick patients in Union County in accordance with Ohio’s Phase 1a group. These Ohio Phase 1a groups have been selected to ensure care is available for sick patients.
Local nursing homes and assisted living facilities are receiving vaccine directly through the federal pharmacy partnership. Local hospitals are also directly receiving vaccine for hospital workers. Local health departments will continue to focus on individuals and facilities within Ohio’s Phase 1a tier who are outside of these settings.
The Governor has indicated Ohio may be able to open vaccination up to Ohio’s Phase 1b in the coming weeks. The goal of Ohio’s Phase 1b tier is to focus on persons at highest risk for severe illness (includes adults over age 65 and Ohioans with severe congenital, developmental, or early-onset medical disorders) and to get kids back into school (by vaccinating adults working in schools). We do not have a defined timeframe on when Ohio will open up vaccination to individuals in Ohio’s Phase 1b tier. As we know more on when Phase 1b vaccination can begin, we will continue to update residents.
Vaccine Supply Remains Very Limited: The Union County Health Department received our initial shipment of vaccine (200 doses) on Dec. 22 and held our first closed clinic on Dec. 23. We received a second shipment on Dec. 28 (100 doses) and held a second closed clinic on Dec. 31. All 300 doses received were administered by Dec. 31. We received our third shipment of vaccine on Jan. 04 (100 doses) and have a fully booked closed clinic this week.
We anticipate receiving this very limited supply of vaccine (100-200 doses) on a weekly basis for several more weeks. We will continue to administer the vaccine as quickly as possible after receipt. We stand ready to vaccinate a larger number of people as soon as the vaccine supply increases.
How to Know When You Can be Vaccinated: At this time, we are working directly with organizations located within Union County who fall within Ohio’s Phase 1a group. We are still finalizing communications plans to reach Union County residents who fall within Ohio’s Phase 1b. We do not have a specific timeframe on when the Ohio 1b group will open up. Thus, we are not keeping a list of Union County residents who are interested in vaccination at this time. Please continue to check our website, Facebook page, and read these email updates for the latest information. If you know an older adult who is interested in vaccination, please help us share this information. As we learn more about Ohio’s Phase 1b, we will finalize a detailed communications plans to make sure all those who are eligible and interested in receiving vaccination are informed.
Local Situation Update: As of Jan. 04 at noon, Union County has recorded 3,389 cumulative cases of COVID-19. 133 Union County residents have required hospitalization for their illness. 20 cumulative deaths have been reported among Union County residents. The average age of Union County residents with reported COVID-19 infection is 41 years, with the 40-49 year old age bracket making up the highest percentage of Union County cases (19%).
From Dec. 18 to Jan. 04, 723 new cases were reported in Union County residents; 27 new COVID-19 related hospitalizations were reported; and sadly, two additional death were reported.
Please click here to see this week’s data update from our COVID response team.
