Ohio COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Continues Next Week With School Employees

Two local school districts were not included on the first week of eligible recipients

Shutterstock photo.

(Columbus, Oh.) – The Ohio Department of Health has released a list of schools that will have access to the COVID-19 vaccine beginning next week.

Approximately 91,000 school personnel will be eligible to receive the vaccine during the next phase of the vaccine rollout plan.

Governor Mike DeWine says one of the goals for vaccine distribution is to get all kids back in school by March 1. Currently, only 45.8 percent of students are attending full in-person instruction.

Schools w/ access to vaccines next week have been notified ➡ https://t.co/0OYVyz7Ipb Tomorrow, we’ll notify all schools which week they will receive their vaccinations. The plan we’ll announce tomorrow was created with several important factors in mind. ⬇

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) January 28, 2021

“To help schools return safely to in-person education, we have prioritized vaccinating K-12 school employees,” said DeWine. “This includes teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians – anyone who is in the school building.”

However, due to limited supply of the vaccine, there isn’t enough to administer shots to every school in the first week.

“We must be able to also vaccinate older Ohioans in February,” DeWine added.

Only one Hamilton County school corporation was included on the first list, Cincinnati Public Schools. Meaning Southwest Local School District and Three Rivers Local School District employees will have to wait a little longer to be eligible to receive the vaccine.

The plan is to ensure that counties can vaccinate the maximum number of people in the shortest time.

DeWine says the full plan will be announced on Friday.

Check back for updates.