COLUMBUS, Ohio — Earlier this week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that he was authorizing every COVID-19 vaccine provider in the state to give the vaccine to anyone age 16-years-old and older if they have open appointments.
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Beginning this weekend, the state's COVID-19 vaccine online portal will permit everyone in the state age 16-years-old and older to begin scheduling for the vaccine, DeWine announced at his press briefing on Thursday.
"Earlier this week, I announced that the COVID vaccine providers who were having difficulty filling appointments for this week with currently eligible groups could schedule Ohioans age 16 years old and older for these appointments," DeWine said. "To support these providers, beginning this weekend, we have simplified our portal, our registration process on our GetTheShot.Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov website. We have simplified it to reflect the fact that those age 16-years-old and older are now eligible."
While DeWine noted that many vaccine appointments for this weekend are already booked, the portal also allows users to schedule vaccination appointments in the future. Beginning on Monday, March 29, all Ohioans age 16-years-old and older are officially eligible to begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, marking the final stage of the state's vaccine rollout for adults.
Currently, adults age 40-years-old and older, as well as those with qualifying pre-existing conditions and occupations are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Ohio. DeWine, however, authorized providers to give the vaccine to anyone else age 16-years-old and older ahead of March 29 in order to ensure that vaccinations that might otherwise be wasted are used.
You can watch DeWine's full press briefing in the video player below.