HEALTH | COVID-19 vaccine: Strides toward equity, access demanded

By Susan Tebben

Marko Geber/Getty Images.

As COVID-19 vaccine distribution slowly but surely continues in the state, minority populations still represent a small percentage of those that have received the vaccine, and officials and advocates say more strides toward minority equity and access need to happen.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine hasn’t wavered in recent messages that vaccine doses coming to the state are scarce.

“We know there’s not enough,” DeWine said again on Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, state data showed 5.62% of the state’s population, or more than 656,000 people, had “started the vaccine,” meaning they have received at least the first dose of the two-dose vaccine. Statewide, 4.63% of white Ohioans have received at least their first dose. The Black population only represents 2.07% of those who’ve begun vaccination.

A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis showed, as of Jan. 19, the demographic distribution for vaccines was 82% white and 6% Black.

Some data is missing from the analysis, with 19% of the vaccination distribution showing “unknown race” and 24% showing “unknown ethnicity.” A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Health said the race and ethnicity data is voluntarily filled in by the person receiving the vaccine, so the department does not control whether that data is completed.

The absence of or small amount of data showing people of color receiving the vaccine — though reporting of vaccine distribution is still in its early stages — could stem from a continuing distrust by the Black community and people of color of vaccines and the government’s implementation of public health.

“We’re still monitoring the data, but the the fact of the matter is that our health care system is not set up to serve Black Americans well,” said Hope Lane, policy associate at Ohio-based think tank Center for Community Solutions.

Lane said the Tuskegee Experiment, in which Black participants were intentionally not treated for syphilis, and the experiments conducted on Black women in the early days of gynecology are “not so distant history,” and a shortage in doctors and pharmacists of color doesn’t help the hesitancy some have in receiving treatment or vaccines.

That situation combines with a lack of forethought in the plans for vaccine distribution, according to Lane.

“There are drive-up sites, but when you don’t have a car you can’t drive-up,” Lane said. “There’s just things like that are part of the lack of access.”

Even statewide distribution of the vaccine to pharmacies does not equal access in some areas.

“Putting it just in pharmacies doesn’t work in communities like Dayton, because we have food deserts and prescription deserts in our African-American communities,” said Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley on Tuesday.

Whaley was a part of a press conference to push for a new COVID-19 funding plan put together by President Joe Biden, but said strategies around getting the vaccine into minority communities must occur on the local, state and federal level to work.

That includes bringing the vaccine to places where the communities gather, like churches. Of the 800 vaccines Public Health of Dayton & Montgomery County received recently, 200 of those were placed at St. Margaret’s Church in west Dayton, according to Whaley.

“So (the vaccine) would be in a place that is trusted in our community, connected to our community, for the African-American community,” Whaley said.

Carol Smith, a retired nurse from the Ohio State Penitentiary emphasized the need for education and outreach in order to get past the fears that are present because of the history of the country’s health care system.

“We must acknowledge the concerns and acknowledge that these concerns are legitimate,” Smith said during the press conference. “Here comes the paramount role of education to those around us, who need encouragement and the knowledge to educate themselves and others.”

DeWine has said the state government will begin some “communication and education strategies aimed at minority communities,” such as town halls, marketing campaigns, and a “tool kit” for community partners to address vaccine hesitancy.

On Tuesday he mentioned partnerships with churches as another way to “make sure we’re covering everyone in the state of Ohio.”

“It’s an ongoing effort,” DeWine said. “We’re not there yet, but it is what we’re going to strive for, what we’re going to continue to strive for.”

The efforts will begin Feb. 8, DeWine said, aligning with the week vaccines are scheduled to be distributed to Ohioans aged 65 and older. That week, vaccines will be taken directly to “affordable senior housing” facilities, where DeWine said the threat of serious illness is high because of the age of the residents and “potential barriers to accessing the vaccine.”

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This story is provided by Ohio Capital Journal, a part of States Newsroom, a national 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. See the original story here .

Millions head to polls as COVID-19 afflicts record numbers of Ohioans

 By Jake Zuckerman

Voters in line to vote early on Oct. 24 before the Board of Elections opened. Voters shown here at 8am are on the InnerBelt ramp in a line that snaked around the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. There was an estimated two hour wait to vote from the end of the line.

On March 16, the state health department reported that 13 more Ohioans tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the cumulative known caseload to 50.

Just after 10 p.m., Gov. Mike DeWine announced that Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton issued an order delaying the primary election, scheduled for the next day.

The announcement seemingly ignored Common Pleas Judge Richard Frye’s rejection of a lawsuit just hours earlier seeking to delay the election. DeWine and Secretary of State Frank LaRose helped orchestrate the lawsuit.

Acton’s order cited the “imminent threat” of “widespread exposure” to COVID-19.

“It is clear from history and experience that large number[s] of people gather at polling locations which increases the risk of transmission of COVID-19,” the order states. “To conduct an election at this time would force poll workers and voters to face an unacceptable risk of contracting COVID-19.”

Times have changed.

On Monday, ODH reported 2,900 more Ohioans contracted COVID-19. More than 1,800 are currently in the hospital with the disease, and more than 5,300 have died since March.

Regardless, thousands of Ohioans will pour into poll locations Tuesday to pick a president, two state Supreme Court justices, state senators and representatives, and scores of down-ballot candidates and issues.

Of course, there are some key differences: our collective understanding of the virus, how it spreads and who’s at risk has evolved; our risk tolerance has developed while we figure out how to navigate ordinary life during an extraordinary health crisis; evidence-backed personal protective equipment is more readily available; and the state has more control over its primary election than a general election.

The contrast is nonetheless stark.

The incubation period for COVID-19 can be up to 14 days, according to the CDC. Over the last 14-day period ending Monday, more than 38,000 Ohioans contracted COVID-19. The close contacts (within six feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) of people known to be infected are advised to quarantine as well.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued guidance to county boards of elections, advising them to utilize curbside voting for people who tested positive or may have been exposed to COVID-19.

“No matter what, every eligible voter who wishes to vote must be permitted to do so after they are asked to consider safer alternatives,” the guidance states.

A spokeswoman said Tuesday LaRose has also implemented an emergency option, allowing people who have been ordered to isolate or quarantine since noon Saturday to request an absentee ballot before 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Melanie Amato, an ODH spokeswoman, said Tuesday that the department does not plan on issuing any orders to halt the election or prevent anyone from voting.

“The state of Ohio has now had nine months to learn and study COVID-19,” she said. “When the original order was issued in March, Ohio was just starting to have positive cases. We were still learning and did not have the precautions in place that we do now. Now with a mask mandate, social distancing, safety precautions for poll workers and more knowledge about the virus, we feel people can remain safe when heading to the polls.”

State lawmakers went on to rework the primary into an all-mail affair with an April 28 deadline. What effect, if any, the coronavirus could have on Tuesday’s election remains unclear.

As of 2 p.m. Monday, LaRose said 3.4 million Ohioans have cast their ballot early in person, via drop box, or by mail. One day before the 2016 election, that number was 1.8 million.

The presidential race has in many ways been defined by the pandemic. President Donald Trump has insisted, without evidence, the pandemic is “rounding the corner.” The campaign has hosted large-scale rallies with few wearing masks or social distancing. Trump has spent months downplaying the virus and caricaturizing it as a media hoax. He floated the idea of firing the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, on Sunday after Fauci criticized Trump’s handling of the pandemic in an interview with The Washington Post.

Meanwhile, Democratic challenger Joe Biden has generally opted against large rallies, frequently wears his mask during public appearances, and criticizes the president for hosting “super spreader” events — including one at the White House believed to have infected Trump and more than 20 contacts including aides, U.S. Senators and journalists.

In Ottawa County, the virus and the election are set to literally converge: The county health department’s boardroom has been retooled into a poll location.

According to Cleveland.com, the county has picked the winner of the presidential race in each of the last 14 elections. It turned red Oct. 22 on Ohio’s Public Health Advisory System map, indicating “very high rates of exposure and spread.”

Health Commissioner Jerry Bingham said he’s focused on stopping spread within households and at social gatherings. If people wear masks and socially distance at the polls, voting will be safe, but he said everybody must buy in.

“Back in March, this was such a new virus,” he said. “Over the months, there have been a lot of new discoveries about what works well, what doesn’t, how infectious it is. I’d say we know a lot more about the virus than in March.”

That said, LaRose’s guidance to boards of election hints at the bitter national divide regarding masks. It says poll workers should “encourage” voters to wear masks but cannot force them to.

“Do not engage in underlying issues that may factor into the objection,” the guidance warns.

The CDC offers its own guidance for voting during the pandemic: masks, hand hygiene, social distancing, and getting in and out as quickly as possible.

“Voters who are sick or in quarantine should take steps to protect poll workers and other voters,” it states. “This includes wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, and washing your hands or using hand sanitizer before and after voting. You should also let poll workers know that you are sick or in quarantine when you arrive at the polling location. Check with local authorities for any additional guidance.”

This story is provided by Ohio Capital Journal, a part of States Newsroom, a national 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. See the original story here.

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DeWine: 70% of Ohioans in counties with increased COVID-19 spread

 By Jake Zuckerman

A surgical mask and an N95 mask hang on display for sale at a pharmacy. Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images.

About 70 percent of Ohioans are living in a county with increased levels of COVID-19 exposure and spread, according to the state’s Public Health Advisory System.

While a few counties have receded from “red” status (“very high exposure and spread”), the system — based on a series of inputs like infection rates, emergency room and outpatient health visits — shows a virus slowly making its way into Ohio’s rural counties.

More than an abrupt boiling over, the PHAS depicts Ohio as a pot, gradually rising to a simmer.

“We just can’t seem to get the number of new cases down,” Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday. “Really, what you’re seeing is the spread of the virus over the state.”

Over the past week, the Ohio Department of Health has reported an average of about 1,000 residents newly infected per day and about 28 dying from those infections per day.

That’s about on par with early-July levels of spread. However, a newly resumed K-12 and college school year, a looming return of Big Ten football, and fall weather driving residents indoors could all swing the epidemic curves.

Nearly 144,000 Ohioans have contracted COVID-19, according to Sunday state data. Nearly 15,000 have been hospitalized with the disease, and 4,600 have died.

Nationally, about 7 million Americans have been infected as the death toll landed just shy of 200,000, according to Johns Hopkins University data accessed Sunday.

Ohio’s test positivity rate — the proportion of tests taken that return with positive results — continues to trend downward this week. As of Friday, it averaged out at 3%, well below July highs toward 6%.

The heaviest caseloads remain in Ohio’s most populous counties.

However, population adjusted data shows in the last two weeks, Ohio’s hardest hit counties are Putnam, Mercer, Athens, Harrison and Shelby.

State-by-state data from The New York Times shows Ohio is, comparatively, faring well. It has avoided categorization as a hotspot state to date.

At Ohio State University, more than 2,600 students have contracted COVID-19 between Aug. 14 and Sept. 7, according to university data.

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This story is provided by Ohio Capital Journal, a part of States Newsroom, a national 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. See the original story here.

DeWine’s health director pick withdraws hours after selection

HEALTH

By Ohio Capital Journal Staff

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine named his choice for a new health director Thursday afternoon in a release at 3:30 p.m. By 8:30 p.m., DeWine had announced she had withdrawn from consideration.

“This evening, Dr. Joan Duwve withdrew her name from consideration for the position of Director of the Ohio Department of Health, citing personal reasons,” a news release Thursday evening announced. “The Governor’s administration will continue its search for a full-time Director of the Ohio Department of Health.”

Dr. Joan Duwve

DeWine had selected Duwve to fill the position after the resignation of Dr. Amy Acton in June. Acton became a household name in Ohio this past spring, appearing regularly with DeWine during his press conferences. While Acton enjoyed significant support and popularity, she was also the focus of intense criticism, including from Statehouse lawmakers. Protesters of coronavirus-related Ohio Department of Health orders repeatedly demonstrated outside her Bexley home.

Other news reports indicate that Duwve, an Ohio native and graduate of North Olmsted HS and The Ohio State University, was once a volunteer coordinator for Planned Parenthood. This tenuous connection to women’s choice, dating to 1984, was enough to galvanize the mobilization of abortion foes, making it questionable whether the appointment would have received confirmation from the Ohio Senate.

A spokesman for the Governor said that he was aware of the Planned Parenthood connection at the time of the appointment and that Duwve’s withdrawal  was for unrelated “personal reasons”.

Since Acton’s resignation, the department has been helmed in the interim by Lance Himes.

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This story is provided by Ohio Capital Journal, a part of States Newsroom, a national 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. Additional reporting by The Real Deal Press.See the original story here.

BREAKING NEWS: Gov. to Declare Health Emergency, Order Polls to be Closed Tomorrow

CHAOS REIGNS ON ELECTION EVE

Less than nine hours before the polls are scheduled to open for Ohio’s 2020 partisan primary election, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has announced that his health director, Amy Acton, will sign an order directing the state’s polling locations not to open because of a health emergency.

DeWine’s office has issued the following statement in the last hour:

"During this time when we face an unprecedented public health cris, to conduct an election tomorrow would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at an unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus. As such, Health Director Dr. Amy Acton will order the polls closed as a health emergency. While the polls will be closed tomorrow, Secretary of State Frank LaRose will seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity.”

The announcement comes as state officials scramble to avert an otherwise certain logistical nightmare following a dizzying back and forth that began when DeWine made a late decision to close the polls by seeking a court order late Monday afternoon. A Franklin County Common Pleas judge, Richard Frye, denied the request, his ruling coming after many poll workers around the state had been told the election was postponed, with some being notified hours later that the election was still on.

This story will be updated as developments occur.