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OPA COVID-19 Vaccines: March 29, 2021 Update
OPA COVID-19 Vaccine Update
The vaccine allocation has now expanded to Phase 2D, allowing vaccine administration to all eligible individuals over 16. All individuals from previous phases continue to be appropriate candidates for the vaccine.
Age Verification for Minors
This week’s allocation includes patients 16 and 17 years of age. Please ensure that patients who are minors have documented parental consent and a parent or guardian present when administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only vaccine currently authorized for 16 and 17-year-olds. Ensure that patients are not mistakenly given the other manufacturers’ vaccines by incorporating a hard stop in all scheduling software and workflows based on the patient’s age. Patients younger than 16 years are not currently eligible for any COVID-19 vaccine at this time.
Health Equity Considerations
Specific segments of Ohio’s population continue to be at a higher risk for exposure to COVID-19 or severe complications from the disease. These vulnerable populations include those with preexisting medical conditions or those who live or work in high exposure risk areas. Consider focused strategies to make vaccine options available to vulnerable populations during allocation expansion. See this guidance document regarding health equity considerations for COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Appointment Availability Notification
As vaccine allocation increases over time, some counties in Ohio may have extra vaccine because of lower uptake/interest. To better inform the state government regarding future allocation decisions, please contact OPA through Myriam Shaw Ojeda mshawojeda@ohiopharmacists.org to provide additional insight.
Stories of COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
OPA seeks to highlight the fantastic work of our members in the fight against COVID-19 through vaccination efforts. If you have a story or pictures to share, we would like to showcase them to the rest of the membership. Please send your stories and photographs to Jessica Wotruba at jwotruba@ohiopharmacists.org.
OPA is working diligently to facilitate communication between state decision-makers and member pharmacists. OPA has created multiple COVID-19 resources, including a COVID-19 Vaccine Information Webpage, COVID-19 Testing Portal, and COVID-19 Resources Webpage, on the OPA website www.ohiopharmacists.org under the Resources drop-down box. For further questions, please contact Myriam Shaw Ojeda, Fellow in Policy and Innovation, at mshawojeda@ohiopharmacists.org.
