March 8, 2021

LIST OF COVID-19 VACCINE PROVIDERS

The Ohio Department of Health just announced to us (at 1:45pm) that the Governor will be relaying changes in the vaccine eligibility this week during the 2pm press conference.   They are dropping the age eligibility to age 50 and over. 

They are also adding individuals with Type 2 Diabetes (Type 1 was already eligible) along with end-stage renal disease. 

Please feel free to share the information with those you come across that express interest in the vaccine.    I will be updating our Facebook page shortly and you may feel free to share it to your city page as well.    We are hosting Clinics this week on Wednesday and Thursday with each day beginning at 8:30am and lasting until early evening (6pm) to allow working folks the option of getting an appointment after work.  We can typically vaccinate 260-300 people per day of clinic.   We currently are able to offer the option of either Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines and allow the client to choose. 

Thanks!....Kate

Kate Siefert, MPH, RS

Health Commissioner

Crawford County Public Health

1520 Isaac Beal Road

Bucyrus, OH 44820

P: (419) 562-5871

Below are the updates from Governor DeWine’s press conference.

• Ohio’s COVID-19 case data:
  • 620,181 confirmed cases
  • 70,567 probable cases  
  • 690,748 total cases
  • 38,002 hospitalizations
  • 8,009 confirmed deaths
  • 846 probable deaths
  • 8,855 total deaths
  • 5,837 ICU admissions
  • More data is available on the COVID-19 Dashboard HERE.

Ohio Vaccine Preparedness Office Weekly Update 12.29.2020

12.30 Presser Final

Let's all do our part to help stop the spread of Covid-19 in our community.

Ohio Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff stressed the need for citizens to continue following the Stay Safe Ohio Protocol to help prevent Ohio hospitals from becoming overwhelmed

Ohio’s Stay Safe Protocol

1) Stay home
2) Wear your mask.
3) Keep interactions short and stay apart.
4) Wash your hands
5) Work from home.
6) Celebrate safe. Celebrate small
7) Don’t eat or drink with anyone outside of your household.
8) Limit travel
9) Keep weddings and funerals safe.
10) Enjoy safe holiday activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 Vaccine
Q: Is there a COVID-19 vaccine?
A: As of December 3, 2020, in the United States, two COVID-19 vaccines have submitted applications for emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If granted, the vaccine could arrive in Ohio in limited supply for distribution to initial critical populations in December 2020.
Q: What is Operation Warp Speed?
A: Operation Warp Speed is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense to help develop, produce, and distribute millions of vaccine doses for COVID-19 as quickly as possible while ensuring that vaccines are safe and effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is focused on vaccine planning, working closely with the Ohio Department of Health and other state partners to prepare for vaccination availability.
Q: Why is a COVID-19 vaccine needed if social distancing and wearing masks prevent COVID-19 virus from spreading?
A: Getting us through the pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines boost your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to or spreading the virus. Together, the coming COVID-19 vaccines and proper prevention measures will offer the best protection from COVID-19.
Q: How many COVID-19 vaccines are under development?
A: Multiple COVID-19 vaccines are under development. As of November 24, 2020, large-scale (Phase 3) clinical trials are in progress or being planned for five COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. As of December 3, 2020, two vaccines have applied for emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA.
Q: How many doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be needed?
A: The two vaccines that have applied for emergency use authorization each require two doses. There is a vaccine in development and Phase 3 clinical trials that uses one dose. Ohioans who receive a dose of a particular vaccine must receive a second dose of the vaccine from the same manufacturer. For example, if you receive a first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, your second dose must be the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. If you receive a first dose of the Moderna vaccine, your second dose must be the Moderna vaccine.
Q: How will I know that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe?
A: The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. Safety is a top priority while federal partners work to make a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine(s) available. Clinical trials study the effectiveness of the vaccine in thousands of study participants. Data from these trials will be provided to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine vaccine safety and effectiveness. The FDA uses rigorous standards during the evaluation and if it determines that a vaccine meets its safety and effectiveness requirements, it can make these available by approval or emergency use authorization. After FDA makes its determination, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will review available data before making final vaccine recommendations to the CDC. There have been no shortcuts in the vaccine development process. The COVID-19 vaccine development process involved several steps comparable with those used to develop other vaccines, such as the flu or measles vaccine.
Q: Who is paying for the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: The federal government is committed to providing free or low-cost COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine doses purchased with taxpayer dollars will be given to Ohioans who choose to receive them at no cost. For more information, visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov

Q: Will there be enough vaccine for everyone in Ohio?
A: When FDA first authorizes or approves the use of one or more COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, there may be a limited supply. This would mean that not everyone will be able to be vaccinated right away but, in time, as vaccination production ramps up, every Ohioan who chooses may receive a vaccine as soon as large quantities are available.
Q: Will Ohio make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory? A: No.
Q: Are there special considerations on who will receive the COVID-19 first in Ohio?
A: At first, there will be a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine. The federal government will work to get those first vaccine doses out once a vaccine is authorized, approved, and recommended, rather than waiting until there are enough vaccines for everyone. However, it is important that the initial vaccines are given to people in a fair, ethical, and transparent way. Those who are at highest risk of contracting and transmitting the virus will be among the first to be able to access vaccination.
Q: Who can get the vaccine first in Ohio?
A: Initially, there will be a limited number of vaccines available, and Ohio is committed to making it widely available, for those that want to receive it, as quickly as possible as shipments of vaccine arrive. In conjunction with the recommendations of medical experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), Ohio has identified who will be among the first to receive those very early shipments in Phase 1A, should they choose to be vaccinated, listed below.

1. • Healthcare providers and personnel who are routinely involved with the care of COVID-19 patients.
2. • Residents and staff at nursing facilities.
3. • Residents and staff at assisted living facilities.
4. • Patients and staff at psychiatric hospitals.
5. • People with intellectual disabilities and those with mental illness who in group homes or centers and staff at those locations
6. • Residents and staff of Ohio’s veterans homes.
7. • EMS responders.

Q: How many vaccines are available?
A: Vaccine manufacturers are working hard to manufacture and distribute vaccines safely, quickly, and effectively. Each state will be informed, on a weekly basis, of how many vaccine doses they will receive that week.
Q: If I am in an eligible audience, how will I know when I can get the vaccine during Phase 1? Who do I call?
A: We are working closely with vaccine providers and local health departments at this time to determine the best process for eligible audiences to use during the initial vaccination phase. During Phase 1A, the following providers will be responsible for distributing vaccines to the following audiences:

1. • Essential workers in healthcare settings – hospitals and health systems.
2. • Long-term care/nursing home residents and staff – CVS and Walgreens.
3. • Congregate care staff and residents, EMS first responders, any remaining long-term care facility staff – local health departments.

Q: I am not in one of the audiences that has been announced. When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Initially, there will be a limited number of vaccines available, so we are committed to making it widely available, for those that want to receive it, as quickly as possible as shipments of the COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Ohio. Ohio continues to make plans for a way to distribute vaccines in a way that is fair, ethical, and transparent, in conjunction with the recommendations of medical experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). As more information becomes available on who can receive the vaccine when, we will communicate this information publicly including through the news media and share information at coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine.
Q: When will the other distribution phases begin?
A: As vaccine supply increases, Ohio will be able to continue to vaccinate Ohioans who choose to receive the vaccine. The speed at which Ohio will move through the phases is largely dependent upon the number of vaccines available. For more information, visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov

Q: Will my children be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Once a vaccine is available, there will be guidance on who should receive it from the vaccine manufacturer. The bottom line is that Ohioans should be able to obtain safe, effective vaccines for themselves and their families if they choose according to manufacturers’ guidelines once it is widely available.
Q: If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available?
A: Not enough is known about how long natural immunity lasts for those that have recovered from the virus. Until we have a vaccine available and know more about natural immunity to COVID-19, the CDC will not comment on whether people who had COVID-19 should get a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will make recommendations to CDC on who should get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Q: Can other vaccines help prevent me from getting COVID-19?
A: Other vaccines, such as those for flu, measles, or other diseases, will not protect you from COVID-19. Only the vaccines designed specifically to protect you from COVID-19, once approved for use by the FDA, can prevent COVID-19. While a flu vaccine will not prevent you from getting COVID-19, it can prevent you from getting influenza (flu) at the same time as COVID-19. Because the flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading during this time, getting a flu vaccine will be more crucial than ever.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Updated Dec. 4, 2020
For additional information, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov.
For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you or a loved one are experiencing anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call the COVID-19 CareLine at 1-800-720-9616.

5 PROTOCOLS FOR ALL BUSINESSES:

1. Require face coverings for employees and recommend them for clients/customers at all times.
2. Conduct daily health assessments by employers and employees (self-evaluation) to determine if “fit for duty.”
3. Maintain good hygiene at all times – hand washing, sanitizing and social distancing. C
4. lean and sanitize workplaces throughout workday and at the close of business or between shifts.
5. Limit capacity to meet social distancing guidelines. Establish maximum capacity at 50% of fire code. And, use appointment setting where possible to limit congestion.

TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WHEN A COVID-19 INFECTION IS IDENTIFIED:

• Immediately report employee or customer infections to the local health district.
• Work with local health department to identify potentially exposed individuals to help facilitate appropriate communication/contact tracing.
• Shutdown shop/floor for deep sanitation if possible.
• Professionally clean and sanitize site/location. Reopen in consultation with the local health department.

Do you know about the
Paycheck Protection Program &
Loan Forgiveness

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

PPP is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. - Determine the amount of the loan by taking the organization's monthly average payroll and multiple it by 2.5. - In addition to payroll expenses, items like rent, mortgage interest, utilities, and contributions to employees (health insurance, retirement) can be included in this total amount.

Loan Forgiveness

SBA could forgive up to 100% if all employees are kept on the payroll for 8 weeks and 75% of the money is used for payroll, with the remaining loan funds used for rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

Learn More

To complete the loan application and process reach out to your business' accountant and banking institution. The City of Bucyrus, Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Crawford Partnership can help connect your business to the resources to learn more or apply for PPP. Visit www.sba.gov for more information!

Contact Us:

Mayor Jeff Reser mayor@cityofbucyrusoh.us

Jessie Furner, Executive director jessie@bucyrusohio.com

Gary Frankhouse, Economic Dev. garyf@crawfordpartnership.org

Keeping the workplace, school, and home safe

Links and information on how to take action and prepare for COVID-19.

• COVID-19 Preparedness Checklists - Link
• Self-Monitor and Practice Social Distancing - Link
• COVID-19 information for mental health care providers - Link
• Resources for Institutes of Higher Education - Link
• Prevention for Older Adults or Those With Underlying Conditions - Link
• Spring Break and Student Travel - Link
• Preventing Infectious Disease - Link
• Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities - Link
• Best Practices in Handwashing - Link