Source: Ohio Department of Health
The COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Call Center has received a number of inquiries about whether hospitals and local health departments are supposed to continue vaccinating Phase 1A priority populations with the beginning of Phase 1B.
Because hospitals were more easily able to identify employees who are routinely involved with the care of COVID-19 patients and eligible for vaccination in Phase 1A, they were directed to stop vaccination of employees by January 18 (except in limited circumstances) and transition to vaccinating Phase 1B priority populations. However, hospitals that had already administered first doses of vaccine to eligible employees by this deadline will be permitted to administer the second doses when due.
Local health departments should continue to vaccinate eligible and willing Phase 1A priority populations with first and second doses as Phase 1B begins. Local health departments that continue to vaccinate Phase 1A priority populations will continue to receive vaccine that should be used for those populations. If a local health department has unused vaccine after it completes Phase 1A vaccinations, it may use the remaining vaccine to vaccinate eligible Phase 1B priority populations.
Phase 1B enrolled providers who are contacted by Phase 1A priority populations for vaccination should explain that you are not permitted to vaccinate them under the state’s COVID-19 vaccination guidance which requires your vaccine allocation to be used exclusively for Phase 1B priority populations. Direct them to contact their local health department to see if they are a Phase 1A priority population and still eligible for vaccination.
If you have any questions or issues, please call the Ohio Department of Heath (ODH) Provider Call Center between 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, at 1.844.9ODHVAX (1.844.963.4829) or email COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov. You also may visit the ODH COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Information Training webpage for additional information and resources.