CEDARVILLE, Ohio — As Ohio moves forward with its rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, there are many questions about how the state is getting those needed doses into the arms of residents.
For instance, many of you have asked us what to do if you or someone you love are age 80 and older and do not have access to the internet to register online for a vaccine appointment.
During his COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday, Gov. DeWine was asked how the state is handing the technology barrier that many elderly residents face and what can be done going forward.
"What we've found in discussions with health departments and other providers is some of them are doing it (registering for a vaccine appointment) by phone. People in some cases are able to call in by phone and do not have to go in online," DeWine said.
However the governor conceded that providers such as larger hospitals are generally doing their registration process online. "But you're seeing some health departments really doing a phenomenal outreach job," he added.
For those who do not have access to the internet or computer where they live, it is recommended that you try the United Way’s 211 helpline. They will be able to put you in contact with your county health department to help you get registered. Otherwise, you may try contacting your preferred pharmacy or the hospital system you use and ask if they can give you some assistance.
"We're going to constantly look to see about access and availabilty," DeWine stated. "We're very sensitive to that. We understand that someone 90 years of age maybe isn't going onto a computer. We want to continue to evaluate how we're reaching them. The tug and pull is we urgently want to get it (the vaccine) out. But at the same time we want to make it as convenient as we can and make sure we're not missing any group of people who cannot access the system."
Helpful links for COVID-19 vaccine information