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Ohio moves to phase 1B, who's eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine

2.2 million Ohioans fall into 1B group
State starts 1-B vaccinations
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CLEVELAND — Ohio moved to the 1B phase of the COVID-19 vaccination plan on Tuesday. There are roughly 2.2 million Ohioans in this group.

The group focuses mainly on people 65 years old and older. On Tuesday, patients 80 years and older got the shot in the arm they have been waiting for.

“I’m old and they said I should get it,” said Cleveland resident Benson Fleming.

“I feel good,” he said after receiving the vaccination Tuesday morning.

The Cleveland Clinic, The MetroHealth System, and University Hospitals all started vaccinating older patients.

So far, there are about 444,500 Ohioans, or 3.9% of the state’s population have received the COVID-19 vaccination.

“We feel this is truly the way out of the pandemic,” said Dr. Brook Watts, Chief Medical Officer of Community and Public Health with the MetroHealth System.

The supply of vaccines is not keeping up with the demand in the state according to medical experts.

“We will be able to vaccinate 5,000 people this week. We’re getting extra doses out of our vials so that will allow us to do more,” said Chief Medical Officer at University Hospitals, Dr. Robyn Strosaker.

The Cleveland Clinic expects to vaccinate about 3,400 patients.

Monday, January 25, Ohioans 75 years old and older, those with severe congenital, developmental, or early-onset medical disorder are eligible to get the vaccine. Followed by Adults 70 and older, K-12 teachers and staff on February 1 and on February 8 Ohioans 65 and older. But medical experts warn vaccinating all of group 1B may take longer because the vaccine is trickling in.

RELATED: County by county: How to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccination in Northeast Ohio

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