Latest Vaccine Rollout Guidance
OSMA continues to communicate with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the governor’s office about the vaccine rollout. This week, we received more specific guidance for physicians not affiliated with a hospital or healthcare system.
Next week, local health departments in Ohio that registered as providers are expected to begin receiving vaccines. Governor DeWine outlined guidance on individuals who should be prioritized by health departments during Phase 1A.
In addition to vaccinating congregate care residents and staff, local health departments should be prioritize vaccinating other healthcare providers who are not being vaccinated by hospitals and health systems and are not enrolled as vaccine distribution providers themselves.
These providers could include:
- Primary care practitioners, including family medicine and general medicine providers
- Free-standing emergency department, urgent care, pharmacy, and dialysis center providers not vaccinated by hospitals or healthcare systems
- Surgeons not vaccinated by hospitals or healthcare systems
- OB-GYN practitioners not vaccinated by hospitals or healthcare systems
- Healthcare providers including public health employees, at risk for exposure
- Home health/hospice workers not vaccinated by hospitals or healthcare systems
- Federal qualified healthcare center providers
- Dental providers
- Emergency medical services responders
- Mobile unit practitioners
- High-risk ancillary health care staff members
In addition to local health departments, soon the more than 700 locations that have registered to be vaccine distribution sites (this includes primary care practices, urgent cares, etc.) will be identified by the state and start receiving doses of the vaccine. ODH clarified yesterday that those individuals listed above can start reaching out to local health departments and then subsequently the other sites to inquire and arrange getting the vaccine when it’s received by these locations.
OSMA will continue to provide updates after each weekly meeting we have with the state. Should you have any questions, please email info@osma.org. Get the latest vaccine updates from the state. >