PARMA, Ohio — Doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine continue to make their way to Ohio, and now the state's nursing home residents and workers are beginning to receive the shots.
One of the facilities that will begin administering the vaccine Friday is Pleasantview Care Center in Parma, and Gov. Mike DeWine was there this morning as the first shots were given. The governor spoke with reporters outside the building.
"The good news for people in the nursing homes is today, we start," he said. "Today is a good day."
DeWine watched on an iPad as two of Pleasantview's employees received the vaccine. Others in attendance at today's event included Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine and Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter, who expressed gratitude that an end of the pandemic finally appears to be in sight."
"In a baseball analogy, I think we're rounding second and heading for home," he said. "This pandemic has had so many negative things, so many facets that affect families... This gives us hope."
Nursing homes in Ohio and across the country have been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with nearly 4,000 long-term care facility residents dying of the disease in this state alone. These patients are considered among the most vulnerable to the virus, not just because of their age and possible preexisting health conditions but also due to being together in relatively confined spaces.
"This has been one of the saddest stories of this pandemic," DeWine said of the large number of COVID cases in the facilities. "This is something that weighs very heavily on me, and I know it does on everyone."
When later taking questions from the press, the governor confirmed neither he nor his wife would "jump out of line" and receive the vaccine before others who might need it more. He also said his administration had no plans to make the vaccine mandatory for Ohio citizens (in line with policies for shots for other illnesses), but echoed health experts' estimations that the pandemic will not end until at least 70%-75% of people are immunized.
"I think the more people know about this vaccine, the more confident they're going to be," he said. "It's a process, but I'm convinced and truly believe that people are going to take this and they're going to be safe."
Inoculations in Ohio using the Pfizer vaccine began this week. A second vaccine, produced by Moderna, is expected to get FDA approval as soon as today.