The Portage County Health District is preparing to administer COVID-19 vaccinations through the Ohio Department of Health’s Vaccination Program, according to a Tuesday press release.

The district has received the first 300 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The first shipment is designated for people who identify as priority “1A” of the Ohio Department of Health’s Vaccination Program.

Several people fall under this classification, including people in congregate care facilities such as:

• Residents and staff of nursing homes and assisted living facilities not enrolled in a federal pharmacy program such as Walgreens and CVS.
• People with developmental disabilities and those with mental health disorders who live or work in group homes, residential facilities, or centers not enrolled in the federal pharmacy program.

Also under this designation are health care providers with the greatest occupational risk for exposure and transmission of COVID-19, such as: 

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers. 
• Home health and hospice workers not vaccinated by hospital or health care systems.
• Primary care practitioners. 
• Freestanding emergency departments, urgent cares, pharmacies, and dialysis centers not vaccinated by hospital or health care systems.
• OB-GYN practitioners not vaccinated by hospital or health care systems.
• Dental providers.
• Surgeons not vaccinated by hospital or health care systems.
• Mobile unit practitioners.
• Public health employees at risk for exposure and transmission of COVID-19, such as vaccinators.
• Transport and janitorial support staff of health care facilities.

“Our goal is to eventually, based on a tiered approach, vaccinate everyone in our county who wants to be vaccinated,” said Portage County Health Commissioner Joseph Diorio in the email.

The Portage County Health District is advising groups in Phase 1A to visit www.portagehealth.net/COVID-19 to sign up to be placed on the vaccination scheduling list.

The health district will contact the facility or group to schedule the appointment times for their staff, patients, residents, etc. as more vaccine doses become available.

Contact Jenna Borthwick at [email protected].