In conjunction with Ohio’s statewide efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to Ohioans in Phase 1B starting the week of January 19, Portage County Health District and Portage County Emergency Management Agency are partnering to lead the vaccination efforts. The combined knowledge and decades of planning and training will allow us to continue to serve our community as we work to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Portage County residents who choose to receive it.
Portage County Health District received its first doses of vaccine the week of December 20th. As of today, January 14, we have received 900 doses of COVID-19 vaccine and vaccinated 811 persons in Phase 1A. The remaining 89 doses will be administered by Saturday, January 16. This phase includes EMS, healthcare workers not covered by the hospital, residents and staff at developmental disability group homes and centers, residential treatment providers, and residents and staff in nursing and assisted living facilities not part of the federal pharmacy program.
Portage County will start the Phase 1B vaccinations starting next week (week of January 19). Following the guidelines outlined by Governor DeWine, vaccinations will begin with those who are 80 years of age or older and reside within Portage County.
- The week of Jan. 25: Ohioans 75 years of age and older; those with severe congenital or developmental disorders.
- The week of Feb. 1: Ohioans 70 years of age and older; employees of K-12 schools that wish to remain or return to in-person or hybrid models.
- The week of Feb. 8: Ohioans 65 years of age and older.
When a new age group begins, vaccinations may not be complete for the previous age group. It will take a number of weeks to distribute all of the vaccine given the limited doses available.
Due to the limited doses available, Portage County Health District COVID-19 vaccinations will be provided by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Walk-ins without an appointment will not be served. The appointment process will be announced next week. We expect the appointments to fill up very quickly. We are asking for your continued patience. It is our hope to be able to provide COVID-19 vaccination to all those who choose to receive it as quickly as we receive the vaccine.
To receive direct communication from Portage County Health District about vaccination opportunities for each priority group/subgroup determined by the Ohio Department of Health, go to our website at
www.portagehealth.net and click on the COVID-19 Vaccine Information banner at the top of the page. This will not register an individual or facility for vaccine.
“In order to ensure the vaccine is provided to those in the designated phases, Portage County Health District will be holding vaccination clinics in a non-disclosed locations,” states Joseph Diorio, Portage County Health Commissioner. “Our goal is to save lives and slow the spread of this virus by getting COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of those who want it as quickly and efficiently as we can. We are committed to rolling out 100% of the vaccines received within the week of receiving those vaccines.”
“The pandemic has been devastating within many areas of our community including our vulnerable and elderly populations. The vaccine, while still limited, has forwarded a sense of relief for not only responders and support organizations but the demographics in dire need of them. While It will take time to deliver limited supplies, in has provided a light at the end of the tunnel,” stated Ryan Shackelford, Portage County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management Director.
Vaccines are in short supply in Ohio. County allocations are expected to be in the hundreds, not thousands. There will be several providers of COVID-19 vaccine in Portage County. Go to the Ohio Department of Health website for a list of those providers at www.coronavirus.ohio.gov.
