Complete Story
01/12/2021
How to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine in your area, when you're eligible
The rules are a little different for each region
The COVID-19 vaccine roll-out has been a bit messy and a bit confusing for many in the Tri-State region. As vaccinations continue, many have wondered when they'll be eligible and, if they already are, where they can sign up to be considered.
The Cincinnati Health Department is still receiving additional doses of the Moderna vaccine, but there remain health care professionals and first responders waiting to receive those doses.
So when can others in the community hope to get one.
"Calls, emails, everyone wants to know," said Virginia Scott, director of nursing at the Cincinnati Health Department. "It's a good problem to have. Everyone wants it."
Scott said the department has been inundated with people asking when they can sign up.
The tricky thing is knowing whether you qualify for a vaccine now and, if so, where to sign up to be added to the list.
If you're in the City of Cincinnati and you fall into Phase1A, you can sign up for an appointment online now. It gets a little bit less clear if you're outside the city.
"Calls, emails, everyone wants to know," said Virginia Scott, director of nursing at the Cincinnati Health Department. "It's a good problem to have. Everyone wants it."
Scott said the department has been inundated with people asking when they can sign up.
The tricky thing is knowing whether you qualify for a vaccine now and, if so, where to sign up to be added to the list.
If you're in the City of Cincinnati and you fall into Phase1A, you can sign up for an appointment online now. It gets a little bit less clear if you're outside the city.
So what are the phases and who do they cover?
The reason this question is tricky -- specifically in the Greater Cincinnati region -- is because each state has its own plan and identification for who qualifies in certain phases.
In Ohio, Phase 1A only applies to high-risk health care workers and first responders. This is the phase the state is still in currently. Older adults living in congregate or overcrowded settings and people at a significantly higher risk to COVID-19 because of comorbidities or underlying conditions are next up, in Phase 1B. Some counties in Ohio are providing vaccinations to those in 1B, so it's important to check your specific region.
According to Scott, DeWine has advised that the region could officially open to those aged 65 and older on Jan. 18.
In Indiana, Phase 1A covers patient-facing health care personnel in totality. Any physician seeing patients in any field from surgeons to dermatologists to licensed social workers and everything in between currently qualify. Also covered are long-term care facility residents in both independent and assisted-living facilities, group homes and nursing homes. First responders are in Phase1A, as well, including those in the Department of Correction.
Indiana also began allowing the first group of Phase 1B vaccinations: Any Hoosier aged 80 or older qualified as of Jan. 6.
In Kentucky, the state is still in Phase 1A, which serves long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and health care personnel. Once the Commonwealth enters Phase 1B, anyone aged 70 or older, first responders and K-12 school personnel will become eligible.
I'm eligible, so where do I go to sign up for a vaccine?
This is where it gets a little tricky. Some regions have online sign-up pages, and some do not. Some require a survey to gauge how great the demand is for the vaccine in given areas, and some regions are taking applications and appointments now.
In the Tri-State region, here is some guidance on where to check for information in your area, and, if possible, where to sign up for your vaccine:
- Hamilton County Health Department has a link to register on their website. The county will contact those who are eligible based on your information.
- Cincinnati Health Department has a form to register for an appointment, but only for those in the appropriate phase of the vaccine roll-out. Anyone can add information to this form at any time, but the health department has suggested people wait until their phase has opened.
- Clermont County is a bit of an outlier to the roll-out and is currently focusing on those in Ohio's Phase 1B category: older adults living in congregate or overcrowded settings and those at higher risk to the virus because of underlying conditions. They don't have a registration page set up yet but told WCPO it should be coming soon.
- Butler County has a survey people can fill out, but the survey is not a way to schedule a shot. It's merely a tool to evaluate need in the area. They're currently serving those in Phases 1A and 1B.
- Warren County is currently only registering agencies and organizations, no individuals. To register for a vaccine in Warren County, you'll likely need to go through your employer to register.
- The Northern Kentucky Health Department did not return WCPO's request for clarification, and there is not an immediately apparent link to a survey or registration page for this region. The department does have a list of sites where health care workers can go to get vaccinated.
- In Indiana, the state is coordinating the entire vaccination roll-out, so those who qualify can visit the state's page to find a vaccination site in their specific location and register from there.
