Ohio has administered at least the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine to more than 20 percent of its population, crossing the threshold over the weekend, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health.
Twenty percent of Ohio residents translates to nearly 2.4 million Ohio residents. Residents ages 65-69 are the most vaccinated age group, with more than 375,000 vaccinated. They are followed by Ohioans ages 70-74 at more than 340,000 vaccinated and those 80 and older at 338,000 vaccinated.
Ohio is currently in vaccination phase 2B, which is open to Ohio residents ages 50 and older. Vaccines are also available to those with a myriad of health conditions which may put them at increased risk, including either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, sickle cell anemia, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and others.
Workers in the medical, child care, funeral and law enforcement industries are also eligible, as are first responders and staff at K-12 schools.
DeWine praised the vaccine distribution in the state last month, saying that the vaccines are helping to impact the intensity of the coronavirus in the state.
“When you vaccinate a million people…that is going to have an impact, but I think it is a combination of a number of things,” Dewine said. “I think if you look at the hospitals, I think that’s a direct cause and effect — fewer people in the hospitals because of COVID.”
Ohio currently has nearly 850,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 51,000 hospitalizations, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health. Nearly 18,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the state.
Read the whole list of eligible residents here.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.
