CEDARVILLE, Ohio — As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to be distributed across Ohio, one of the biggest questions regarding the process is who will be receiving it next?
RELATED: More coronavirus coverage from WKYC
At his press briefing on Wednesday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine provided the next part of that answer, announcing that the following groups will be eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine in the next step of its distribution:
- Adults 65 years or older
- Those with developmental disorders including Sickle Cell or down syndrome
- All adults working in school buildings
DeWine said he did not have an exact date for when this phase of distribution will begin but that the goal was for it to occur in mid-January. Children younger than 16 are not currently eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
DeWine said he is hopeful that any school that wants to return to in-person learning will be able to do so by March as a result of the vaccine. He also encouraged schools to delay their return to the classroom from winter break by at least one week, as has been recommended by health experts and professionals.
Frontline workers including health care workers routinely dealing with the coronavirus, as well as EMS responders, and congregate living communities are currently in the process of receiving the coronavirus vaccine as a part of the state's first phase of distribution. On Wednesday, DeWine said that everybody in the state who wants to receive the vaccine will be able to eventually, but acknowledged that it will be a months-long process do to its availability.