Ohio Association of County Boards
Serving People with Developmental Disabilities
Serving People with Developmental Disabilities
In the news
Throughout January and February, more than 15,000 Ohioans with developmental disabilities eligible for Phase 1B of the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout #GotTheShot thanks in large part to the extensive, statewide coordination efforts of Ohio's 88 county boards of DD in partnership with local vaccination providers.
Data from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) show that 15,126 people with developmental disabilities and qualifying health conditions had received at least the first dose of their vaccination as of March 1. The total represents a vaccination rate of more than 82.9% of eligible recipients with developmental disabilities in Phase 1B (excluding those who declined the vaccine).
Local Coordination Helped Vulnerable Ohioans
Governor Mike DeWine announced January 19 that Phase 1B of the state's vaccine distribution plan would include Ohioans with qualifying developmental disabilities and specified health conditions given those people's higher risk of death from COVID-19. Mobilizing within days, all 88 of Ohio’s county boards of DD began reaching out to the people and families they serve to share information and coordinate vaccinations. Across the state, county board service and support administrators contacted families while board of DD administrators worked with local health partners to organize dedicated vaccine drives or arrange transportation to clinics for people with developmental disabilities. County board communicators helped spread educational materials while county board facility managers began the process of turning county buildings into clinic sites. County board staff contacted more than 24,000 Ohioans with developmental disabilities eligible for Phase 1B.
"Ohio's county boards of DD were founded to help the people we support live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. When their lives were threatened by COVID-19, county boards answered the call," said Bridget Gargan, CEO of the Ohio Association of County Boards of DD. "I have never been more proud of our system or more in awe of what the combination of local know-how and state leadership can accomplish."
The vaccinations completed in Phase 1B are in addition to those that were completed in Phase 1A, which included people with developmental disabilities living in congregate care settings. OACB anticipates that final figures for Phase 1B will continue to grow as late-reporting health districts provide vaccination numbers and more people who initially declined decide to get the vaccine.
State Leaders Prioritized Safety of Ohioans with DD
OACB thanks the many DD and public health professionals who helped make these vaccine clinics possible as well as the family members and DSPs who accompanied people to receive their shots. The association would also like to thank Governor Mike DeWine and the leadership team at the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities—and Director Jeff Davis, in particular—for their roles in prioritizing the safety and advocating on behalf of people with developmental disabilities during the planning phases of Ohio's vaccine rollout. View Photos of County Board Vaccine Efforts on Social Media
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