05/13/2021

COVID-19 & Ohio: Ohio Vax-a-Million, Kids Vaccination and More

May 13, 2021

Today, Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted provided updates on Ohio's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In Wednesday's statewide evening address, DeWine detailed a series of statewide drawings to provide incentives for Ohioans to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Ohioans aged 18 and older will be entered into "Ohio Vax-a-Million," a weekly drawing with a prize of up to $1 million. The pool of names for the "Ohio Vax-a-Million" drawing will be derived from the Ohio Secretary of State's publicly available voter registration database. Additionally, a webpage will be available to register.  

A total of five weekly drawings for each prize will take place, with the first winners being announced May 26. Winners must have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the date of the respective drawing. 

The drawings will be administered by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), with technical assistance from the Ohio Lottery Commission, and will be funded through existing allocations to the Ohio Department of Health of unexpended coronavirus relief funds.

Additionally, DeWine announced COVID-19 Pfizer vaccinations are now available to Ohio's youth age 12 years and older, following members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for this age group. Additionally, Ohioans 17 and under who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination will be entered into a drawing for a full, four-year scholarship to any of Ohio's state colleges and universities, including full tuition, room and board, and books. A total of five weekly drawings for a full, four-year scholarship will take place, with the first winner being announced on May 26. A webpage will be available to register those who qualify. 

Today, DeWine announced that the administration will inform the U.S. Department of Labor that Ohio intends to stop participation in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program on June 26, 2021. 

"When the program was put in place, it was a lifeline for many Americans at a time when the only weapon we had in fighting the virus was through social distancing, masking, and sanitization," said DeWine. "This is no longer the case as we now have an abundant supply of vaccines."

The FPUC program gave states funding to offer enhanced unemployment benefits, including an additional $600, and now an additional $300. 

“As companies around the globe begin to expand and make new investments coming out of the pandemic, the ability to provide a workforce is emerging as the primary factor in their decisions,” said Husted. “States that can favorably respond are going to win the jobs that will employ people for years to come.”

Several business associations, many of them OSAE members, shared quotes of support regarding this announcement. 

Husted today announced that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), RecoveryOhio, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and Working Partners^® have partnered together to create three new Recovery-Friendly Training Modules. 

These training modules will help employers develop their own approach to hiring and retaining employees who are in recovery. The new Recovery-Friendly Training Modules can be found at RecoveryOhio.gov in addition to the five previously launched modules by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce in 2017. 

Husted also highlighted National Police Week, which runs through Saturday, by recognizing the service and sacrifice of Ohio’s law enforcement officers.

DeWine introduced a new public service announcement today that encourages Ohioans to get vaccinated, featuring Cleveland Browns Coach Kevin Stefanski.