Ohio Gov. DeWine, First Lady Receive First Dose of Coronavirus Vaccine

Jordyn Pair

 

Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine and First Lady Fran DeWine received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday as eligibility continues to open up to various groups in the state.

The vaccine became available to those who are 70 years old or older and staff members of K-12 schools this week as part of Phase 1B of vaccine distribution. The phase allows for vaccines to be administered to those who are ages 65 and up, as well as public school staff and those with severe congenital or developmental disorders. Phase 1B is the second phase of vaccine distribution, following vaccinations for a variety of health care workers and those who live in group care facilities such as nursing homes.

Both DeWines are above the age to be eligible for the vaccine, with the governor age 74 and the first lady age 73.

Vaccines are slated to become available to those who are 65 and older beginning the week of February 8.

The doctor who administered the vaccine to the couple said they received the Pfizer vaccine.

“[It’s] extremely effective,” he said on a livestream of the vaccination. “It’s right at a 95% effective rate. [It’s] 100% effective at preventing serious illness, which is really what it’s all about.”

More than 882,000 Ohioans — more than 7 percent of the state’s population — have received at least the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health. A little more than 50 percent of the vaccinations were among those ages 80 and older.

The state has more than 900,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to the ODH. Nearly 800,000 of those are presumed recovered.

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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.
Photo “Mike DeWine” by Mike DeWine.

 

 

 

 

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