Columbus, OH – March 13, 2021 – Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Aging Director Ursel McElroy today encouraged all of Ohio’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities to immediately engage with Ohio’s COVID-19 Vaccination Maintenance Program to ensure ongoing delivery of vaccines to staff and residents.
Ohio was one of the first states in the nation to launch the federal partnership for vaccinations at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. On December 18, 2020, Ohio administered its first shot as part of the national Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program. Through this program, residents and staff across the state were among the first Ohioans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. While the federal program winds down, Ohio’s facilities have been strongly urged to participate in the Ohio COVID-19 Vaccine Maintenance Program. This program makes it possible for facilities to continue offering the vaccine to employees and residents who chose not to receive the vaccine earlier but now want it, as well as offer the vaccine to new employees and new residents coming into the facility.
“I’m proud Ohio is a leader in establishing one of the earliest state-led vaccine maintenance programs,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “We need to continue making the vaccine available to residents and employees at our nursing homes and assisted living facilities, because we must continue to protect our most vulnerable population of older Ohioans against COVID-19.”
It is important that every Ohio licensed nursing home and assisted living facility complete the online program registration and share how a facility plans to provide the vaccine — either through the state program or by partnering with another entity.
Currently, 90 percent of Ohio’s nursing homes and 74 percent of assisted living facilities have responded. The Ohio Department of Aging would like the remaining 10 percent of nursing homes (98) and 26 percent of assisted living facilities (209) to register their plans. The Ohio COVID-19 Vaccination Maintenance Program, which began in February, has already delivered 16,000 vaccine doses, with an additional 30,000 scheduled through March. To learn more or register for the program, please visit aging.ohio.gov.
About ODA – The Ohio Department of Aging serves and advocates for the needs of Ohioans age 60 and older, as well as their families, caregivers, and communities. Programs include home and community based long-term supports and services, as well as initiatives to promote health and wellness.