Below is information regarding the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine in Ohio. Check with your state health department for details about your state’s vaccine distribution plan.
- Ultra-cold storage is NOT required to enroll as a COVID-19 vaccination provider.
- To enroll as a COVID-19 vaccination providers can go to the State of Ohio’s “OH|ID” webpage at https://ohid.ohio.gov and follow the steps outlined in the enrollment job aid and checklist at www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/ODHvaccine.
- Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine does require ultra-cold storage. It will be shipped to enrolled vaccination providers without this capability in a storage container with dry ice. Vaccination providers must then replenish the storage container with fresh dry ice according to manufacturer guidelines that will be provided.
- The vaccine supply is expected to be limited initially, and Ohio will first vaccinate individuals who are most at risk, including high-risk healthcare workers, those who work in long-term care facilities/nursing homes, and first responders.
- Pfizer and BioNTech announced on Nov. 18 that data from their Phase 3 study of nearly 44,000 people has demonstrated that their vaccine was 95% effective in helping to prevent COVID-19.
- Moderna announced on Nov. 16 that data from its Phase 3 study of more than 30,000 participants in the U.S. has demonstrated that its vaccine, which does not require ultra-cold storage, was 94.5% effective in helping prevent COVID-19.
- AstraZeneca announced on Nov. 23 that data from its Phase 2 & 3 studies of more than 23,000 participants in the United Kingdom and Brazil has demonstrated that one particular dosing regimen of its vaccine was 90% effective in helping prevent COVID-19. The company says that the vaccine can be stored, transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions for at least six months.
Other resources:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recently posted on its website “10 Things Healthcare Professionals Need to Know about U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Plans”
The CDC also posted a preview of COVID-19 vaccine codes and crosswalk.