12/11/2020

Ohio Flu Shot Bill Signed into Law

An Ohio bill that enables podiatrists in Ohio to administer the influenza vaccine to individuals seven-years-old or older was recently signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine.

Senate Bill 178, which unanimously passed the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate, was introduced in July 2019 in response to requests from patients to receive a flu vaccination during visits to see their podiatric physician. An unintended omission from Ohio law previously prevented podiatric physicians from providing flu shots to their patients.

In his testimony before the Ohio House Health Committee, OHFAMA past president Richard Schilling, DPM, FACFAS, said the legislation will improve public health by permitting podiatric physicians to serve as another point of contact for Ohioans seeking flu vaccinations each year.

“This common sense legislation will provide the people of Ohio with greater access to flu shots, which will help reduce hospitalizations, loss of productivity due to lost time at work, and unfortunate deaths that are attributed annually to the flu,” said Schilling, President and Owner of ABC Podiatry in Columbus.

An estimated 8% of the U.S. population contracts the flu each year resulting in 200,000 hospitalizations and over 20,000 deaths. The flu vaccine has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence and severity of flu-related illness and is one of our most powerful defenses against the flu.

The new law takes effect on February 25, 2021.