COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Update Cleveland Archives

From the City of Cleveland newsletter, Straight from City Hall

On Dec. 24, 2020, the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health (CDPH) began strategically and thoughtfully administering doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to individuals identified within Phase 1a of its distribution plan. This includes individuals at the greatest risk in conjunction with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Phase 1a individuals include: healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents/staff and other congregate facilities- staff and residents.

1. Vaccine Distributions to Date

The City has received a total of 6,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine from the State of Ohio. On Dec. 24 –Dec. 29, 2020, a total of 660 vaccines were administered to Phase 1a individuals as well as some essential City of Cleveland workers:

115 – EMS
280 – Fire
26 – Airport Fire Dept.
18 – Cleveland Police Department Officers
150 – Target Phase 1 Population (Non-City of Cleveland Staff)
71—POD support staff

This week, the City reopened its Point of Distribution (POD) at Public Auditorium to vaccinate additional Phase 1a individuals. Those scheduled to receive the vaccine this week include healthcare staff from Federally Qualified Health Centers, other healthcare providers, medical students, EMTs and paramedics who would like to receive the vaccine. As of today, an additional 580 people were vaccinated. The City anticipates vaccinating an additional 400+ individuals by the end of this week.

2. Vaccine Storage and Viability

The City of Cleveland has not and will not discard any of the doses we’ve received or will receive. It is important to note the following about the Moderna vaccine:

o Once the vaccine is transported in a refrigerated state, the vaccine is viable for up to 12 hours

o Once the vaccine is punctured, the vaccine is viable for up to 6 hours

Because of this, CDPH works closely with City departments/divisions and external organizations to create a schedule of the individuals that are expected to receive the vaccine on a given day. This allows CDPH the ability to plan for the number of doses that need to be prepped for administration. In the event, however, that individuals scheduled do not report to receive the vaccine on the date assigned, CDPH works with other City departments to identify essential workers who are able and available to receive the vaccine that day. Those essential workers are vaccinated using the remaining doses.

3. Next steps

Over the next few weeks, the City will continue to provide initial vaccinations to phase 1a individuals. Beginning January 21^st, the City will also begin to provide the 2^nd dose of the vaccine to those individuals who received their first dose 28 days prior.

o Next week, the City will also begin our efforts to vaccinate individuals that reside and work in congregate living facilities. The City will also activate a mobile POD that will be sent to congregate living facilities to vaccinate individuals who have mobility challenges.