COVID-19 In Ohio: 50 Percent Of Adults Vaccinated

COLUMBUS, OH — More than half of Ohio adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the state health department announced Thursday.

However, despite unique and extravagant incentives like the Vax-a-Million lottery, vaccination rates have slowed dramatically in Ohio. The state's COVID-19 website shows that only 11,207 people received their first dose of vaccine on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths related to the virus were all up Wednesday. Ohio is currently averaging more than 740 new COVID-19 cases per day, though that average is dropping.

Gov. Mike DeWine encouraged Ohioans, especially those between the ages of 18 and 59, to get their COVID-19 vaccines. He said it's the best way to stymie the spread of the virus and allow life to proceed as normal.

Unvaccinated Ohioans are still at risk of contracting COVID-19 and dying, according to Dr. Bruce Vandheroff, chief medical officers for the Ohio Department of Health.

"COVID remains a very real danger to every unvaccinated Ohioan," Vanderhoff said. "We often think of COVID as being benign for children, but it is now one of the top 10 causes of death for children in the United States. Vaccination is our best protection against COVID, and we really owe it not just to ourselves to get vaccinated, but to all we care about, including those who are not yet able to be vaccinated."

No vaccine has yet been approved for use in children younger than 12.

"While it is true that younger Ohioans may not have the level of risk that older Ohioans have, bad things can happen to people of any age who get COVID-19," Vanderhoff added.