Three central Ohio hospital systems offered the coronavirus vaccine to employees who work from home, potentially stretching the bounds of what was permitted in the state's initial rollout of the shots.
Phase 1A of Ohio's vaccine rollout identified those first in line to receive the shot as health care workers and personnel who are routinely involved in the care of COVID-19 patients.
The state guidelines, published Dec. 15, said "high-risk health care providers" should be prioritized during Phase 1A, singling out "those with the greatest occupation risk for exposure to and/or transmission of" COVID-19. As examples, the state listed surgeons, primary care doctors, urgent-care workers, home health workers, dental providers, pharmacy workers and others who provide direct health care.