VACCINE TIMELINE FOR PEOPLE WITH DD

 

Issue 83: Thursday, January 7, 2021

People with DD can receive vaccine starting week of January 25, logistical details to be shared next week

In his regular COVID-19 briefing this afternoon, Governor Mike DeWine shared details on the timing of Phase 1B of the state's vaccine rollout, which will include Ohioans 65 and older, school personnel, and people with developmental disabilities not included in Phase 1A. People with developmental disabilities will be among the first in Phase 1B to have access to the vaccine starting the week of January 25. DeWine did not share how vaccinations will be coordinated for people served in today's briefing but said that additional information will be provided "next week"—presumably during the governor's regularly scheduled briefing on January 14. During the week of January 25, Ohioans 80 years and older will be able to receive the vaccine immediately. Each week thereafter, the group of seniors eligible for vaccination will expand in increments of 5 years (i.e. Ohioans 75 and older will be eligible in week two, those 70 and older in week three, etc.) until all people over the age of 65 are eligible to receive the vaccine. Phase 1B also includes personnel at schools committed to returning to in-person or hybrid instruction by March. The state will contact school superintendents directly to ask for a written commitment to re-open in full or in part by March 1. If that commitment is made, then personnel required for in-person operations will become eligible for the vaccine starting February 1. Reminder: Lists of eligible Phase 1B recipients forthcoming from DODD As was shared in the January 5 edition of COVID-19 Updates, DODD is in the process of compiling and sending lists of eligible people within each county to receive the vaccine under Phase 1B. Superintendents should receive these lists by close of business tomorrow. These lists are intended to be starting points only and can be amended or added to by county board staff as necessary. As a reminder, not all people may qualify for priority vaccination in Phase 1B. See the January 5 update for details. Communications critical to vaccine uptake among people served As OACB has communicated previously, county boards will be asked to notify people and families when the vaccine becomes available in their county, where it will be administered, and the process a person must follow to receive the vaccine. County board SSAs, provider liaisons, and communications staff should plan to provide basic information to people and families served, DSPs, and school-age staff in case questions come up during the vaccine rollout process. The following items can be used to refine or supplement county board of DD communications on the vaccination effort.

Vaccine Communications Resources for County Boards

For Board Communicators: COVID-19 Vaccine Communications Toolkit (Communications guidelines; Ohio Department of Health, January 2021) For Board Communicators: COVID-19 Vaccine Education Toolkit (Communications assets; Ad Council, December 2020) For Board Communicators: Vaccine Communications Tips (Communications guidelines; de Beaumont Foundation, December 2020) For All Audiences: COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ (Online FAQ; Ohio Department of Health, January 2021) For All Audiences: Well Aware, Part Three: COVID-19 Vaccine (Upcoming DODD webinar on Wednesday, January 13) For People/Families Served: COVID-19 Vaccine Myths vs. Facts (Informational handout; Ohio Department of Health, December 2020) For People/Families Served: Plain-Language Guide to the COVID-19 Vaccine (Informational handout; DODD, December 2020) For DSPs: The Facts About COVID-19 Vaccines for For Direct Support Professionals (Webinar recording; National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, January 2021)

Questions about Phase 1B or the role of county boards in the vaccine notification process? Send us an email at covid19@oacbdd.org.

New two-week data show incidence, ICU occupancy remain critically high across state

New COVID-19 hotspots have emerged in portions of Southeast Ohio, according to new two-week data released today by the Ohio Department of Health. Monroe County now has the highest COVID-19 incidence rate in the state with more than 1,100 cases per 100,000 residents. Pickaway, Shelby, Fayette, Brown, and Clermont all have more than 900 cases per capita averaged over the two-week period between December 23 and January 5. High per-capita infection rates are being accompanied by severe bed shortages in hospital intensive care units. In Hospital Preparedness Region 8 (covering south eastern and east central Ohio) more than half of all ICU beds are currently occupied with COVID-19 patients, increasing the risk of care rationing for other health care emergencies. Details on these figured can be found in the state's key measures report by clicking the button below.

Cases Per 100K Residents by County (Dec. 23 - Jan. 5)

ICU Utilization Percentage by Hospital Readiness Region

Read the State's Latest Key Measures Report

Editor's Note: In keeping with guidance from public health officials and the office of Governor Mike DeWine, OACB will begin sharing the state's bi-weekly COVID-19 county incidence and ICU occupancy maps in lieu of the Public Health Advisory System indicator map shared in previous editions. The PHAS map, while initially informative when launched in July, now has limited usefulness as the majority of the state has reached and stayed at Level 3. OACB may use PHAS data in the future if additional counties rise to Level 4 (i.e. purple) to show rapidly worsening spread in certain counties, but the maps above will remain the primary method for sharing state COVID-19 data going forward. Furthermore, the maps above will be shared on a bi-weekly basis only as reports are run by state health officials.

Questions about this topic? Send an email to covid19@oacbdd.org.

Send Us Your Questions OACB has created an email address to serve as the association's single point of contact for all technical assistance related to COVID-19. We will respond to members with answers to questions emailed to this address as soon as they are known and take all steps to ensure consistent information is distributed statewide for use by county boards.

Email OACB a Question About COVID-19

Ohio Association of County Boards of DD 73. E Wilson Bridge Road, Suite B1 Worthington, OH 43085   www.oacbdd.org