CLEVELAND — The good news is Governor Mike DeWine's office says the weather is not having an impact on vaccine delivery. But it may have an impact on some getting to their vaccine appointments.
Here's what you need to know as the COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Ohio continues this week:
Many places are not letting the weather stop them from continuing their vaccine appointments, but if you have an appointment this week, it's probably a good idea to call ahead to make sure it's still happening. University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic say they'll work with seniors who have to reschedule, but some providers may not be so accomodating. So make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to your appointment safely, and dress in layers. Remember they need to get to your arm, so wear a short sleeved shirt as the bottom layer.
I spoke with the Governor's office and they are getting closer to a statewide vaccine sign-up portal and they want providers to reach out to the Ohio Department of Health to get more information. Not all providers will have the software to sync up, but the hope is for those who do, you'll just need to go to one website to access them all.
Also the list of underlying conditions has expanded for those who are eligible for a vaccine. It includes conditions like sickel cell anemia, severe type 1 diabetes that required hospitalization, spina bifida and those born with certain heart defects. The list is specific so you may want to review it to see if you qualify. Providers are still behind finishing up seniors, so those in the groups that were approved in later weeks, may need to wait a little longer, but keep checking and registering.