Many hospitals and nursing homes in the state of Ohio are getting the COVID vaccine. Now, many Ohioans are wondering when they’ll be able to get vaccinated. Just like the vaccine took months to develop, health experts say it will be months more before the average person will be eligible.
The vaccine rollout continues in the state. Governor Mike DeWine says Ohio should receive 420,000 COVID-19 vaccines by Christmas.
"Meaning there will be fewer people dying, fewer people being hospitalized as more and more people get vaccinated,” said Dr. Joseph Gastaldo.
Ohio is expected to receive 660,000 vaccines this month, then another 660,000 vaccines in January. However, doctors say there is still a way to go.
"For us to see that affect it's not going to happen tomorrow. I'm talking many months down the road probably in the spring,” said Dr. Gastaldo.
So, when will most Ohioans be able to get the vaccine?
"We're optimistic that the general public will be able to get the vaccine in the early spring,” said Dr. Mysheika Roberts, Columbus Health Commissioner.
Health experts say the hope is spring however, there's a lot of factors to consider.
"That is very dependent on what the uptick in vaccine is like in the first group, and it's also depending on the manufacturing of the vaccine and if there is enough vaccine to go around,” said Dr. Roberts.
The vaccine rollout, in phase 1 now, is working on vaccinating healthcare workers, EMS responders, and vulnerable populations living in nursing homes. Most Ohioans will be able to get the vaccine by Phase 3 when the supply of the vaccine is expected to increase.
"What the federal government has announced is that probably sometime in the spring, we'll be able to vaccinate those who are high risk and as time goes on probably by the summer of 2021, we will have enough vaccines for every American for them to receive if they decide to,” said Dr. Gastaldo.