Moderna, Pfizer Increasing COVID-19 Vaccine Shipments To Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — Pfizers and Moderna will soon increase the amount of COVID-19 vaccine they are shipping to Ohio.

Gov. Mike DeWine lamented the state's lack of COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, but said help was on the way. Pfizer expects to increase its weekly shipment to the Buckeye State by 40 percent by mid-to-late February.

Pfizer is currently shipping 73,000 doses of vaccine to Ohio per week. A 40 percent increase would mean 29,200 additional doses per week.

"Also, Pfizer tells us that at least by the end of March, vaccine shipments to Ohio should double compared to where we are today," the governor said.

Moderna will increase its shipments of vaccine to 105,600 doses per week starting in mid-February. The company was sending 73,200 doses per week, DeWine said.

After a many nursing home staff refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine, Ohio became one of the first states to redirect those vaccines. DeWine said 77,000 unused doses of vaccine will be shipped to CVS and Walgreens pharmacies this week.

Ohio has been administering COVID-19 vaccine aggressively in long-term care facilities. That tactic has decreased the number of COVID-19 cases the state is seeing per week, DeWine said.

Ohio is now giving the COVID-19 vaccine to older residents. The goal is to protect the state's most vulnerable residents while reopening parts of society, like schools, DeWine added.