As of April 21, 38% of Ohioans have received at least one coronavirus vaccination. Although cases have plateaued, virus variants are more contagious among those who have not been vaccinated.
“Just because the numbers are getting better and more people are getting vaccinated, the virus is now more dangerous than it was a few months ago for those who haven’t been vaccinated,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
“Unvaccinated Ohioans lack the same protection against this virus as those who are vaccinated,” said Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, chief medical officer at the Ohio Department of Health. “The virus is now in more contagious forms that put younger people at much greater risk, including the risk of ending up in the hospital. Essentially, the new variants have evolved to stick much more easily to our cells, so it takes less of the virus and less exposure to make one sick. Add to that the fact that more older Ohioans have been vaccinated, and it adds up to mean that if you’re young and unvaccinated, what may not have been much of a concern to you last fall should be a concern now.”
Dr. Vanderhoff also warned that Ohioans should not count on herd immunity until more people are vaccinated.
The vaccine is now more widely available and there is no shortage. Ohioans can visit gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov to look for open appointments or call 833.4.ASK.ODH to book an appointment over the phone. Appointments for the mass vaccination clinics can be booked via the aforementioned methods.