COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has canceled in-person events after he and his wife, Fran DeWine, were exposed to two staff members who recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Both the governor and his wife are vaccinated and received their booster shots, have tested negative for the coronavirus and have no symptoms.
The governor’s office said Wednesday that the couple won’t appear at previously scheduled in-person events through Sunday.
In August 2020, DeWine tested negative for COVID-19 hours after testing positive earlier in the day.
Vaccines for kids
The news of the DeWines’ exposure came as the state prepared the first vaccinations for children ages 5-11.
“We are thrilled that the COVID-19 vaccine is now available for younger school-aged Ohioans,” Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health said.
With more than 367,000 children’s doses set to arrive in Ohio during the first week of vaccine administration for the nearly 1 million children who are now eligible to receive the shots, Vanderhoff says shortages will not be an issue.
“I don’t think supply is very likely to be our concern here,” he said during a news conference Wednesday morning, the day after the CDC gave final approval for the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine.
It takes five weeks to achieve full immunity so Vanderhoff suggests families plan ahead for upcoming holiday events.
“If you count five weeks back from Christmas, a child who wants protection for the Christmas holidays should really have their first dose no later than November 20th,” he said.
The pediatric dose of the vaccine — one-third of the adult size — was nearly 91% effective at preventing symptomatic infections, with no serious side effects detected, in clinical trials, Vanderhoff said.
The vaccine will be available in all 88 Ohio counties at local health departments, physicians, community health centers, hospitals and pharmacies and the providers are already scheduling appointments or accepting walk-ins.
Vax-2-School deadlines announced
The state has announced the deadlines for entering the expanded Ohio Vax-2-School scholarship incentive program and the dates for the drawings when the scholarships will be awarded to those ages 5 to 25 who have entered.
The program will award $2 million in scholarships to eligible Ohioans. Prizes include 150 $10,000 scholarships and five $100,000 grand prize scholarships. Ohioans can register as soon as the first dose of the vaccine has been administered.
Key date in Ohio Vax-2-School program
- Nov. 21 – deadline to be eligible for all drawings
- Nov. 22 – first drawing for 75 $10,000 scholarships
- Nov. 28 – deadline for the second $10,000 drawing and the grand prize drawing
- Nov. 29 – second $10,000 drawing
- Dec. 1 – deadline for the grand prize drawing for 5 $100,000 scholarships
- Nov. 29-Dec. 3 – daily grand prize drawings
-Source: Ohio Dept. of Health
Ohioans aged 5-25, or their parents or guardians, can enter online once they have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at www.ohiovax2school.com.