All Ohio Adults Can Get COVID-19 Vaccine Starting March 29

CLEVELAND — Starting March 29, Ohioans 16 and older can receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday.

"There is an imperative that shots not sit anyplace. We must get them taken up as quickly as possible," DeWine said.

While touring the mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Wolstein Center, the governor detailed the state's plan to open vaccine eligibility to all Ohioans.

First, on Friday morning, Ohioans 40 and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine, DeWine announced Tuesday.

When eligibility expands to Ohioans 40 and older, it will also expand to Ohioans with one of the following medical conditions: cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease and obesity. This represents 766,000 Ohioans who would not otherwise receive the vaccine, DeWine said.

To facilitate vaccine distribution, Ohio has launched its first statewide vaccine registration tool, which can be accessed online.

"It's a moral imperative that we move as quickly as we can to vaccinate all Ohioans who wish to be vaccinated. We expect a significant increase in vaccines coming to Ohio soon, so we will expand vaccine eligibility," DeWine said.

The governor expects COVID-19 vaccine shipments to rapidly increase during the last week of March. With that in mind, DeWine said, the state plans to make the vaccine available to all Ohio adults starting March 29.

Ohioans who are 16 or 17-years-old can only receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine due to FDA restrictions.

Ohioans must continue to follow social distancing protocols and all health guidelines as vaccines are distributed.

"This virus is still very much out there," DeWine said.