Updated: 7:31 AM EDT Mar 17, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript Well, good morning, everybody. This is a exciting day. Happy ST Patrick's Day a day early. This is what we're seeing today is certainly taking a lot of work by a number of people. I want first thank Cleveland state President Harlan Sands for his great work and for hosting hosting us. I'm joined, also by County Administrator Armand Booed ish, who has certainly been a great great partner on this, as well as FEMA region acting administrator Kevin Sly. Kevin and I have talked the administrator, and I've talked quite a bit on the phone. First time we've had chance to meet today, so all of us will be speaking today. Also want to certainly certainly. Thank um, the United States Army from Fort Campbell, Uh, as well as the National Guard, primarily from from Brook Park. We had the opportunity just a moment ago. I know many of you toured the site yesterday. We had the chance to actually go out on the on the floor, uh, spent about a half an hour just talking to people who were coming in and people who had already got their shot. And I think the universal reaction was one of relief and happiness. Um, this is this is this is a great day. Mhm. I want to just mention, uh, you know, the last huge event, uh, took place, Um, one of the events that took place. It took a lot of preparation. For example, was the national convention that took over a year to plan, And I just again want to thank everyone. Uh, we're planning this eight week mass vaccination site. This is state local. Federal teams all really came together and came together in about a two week period of time. Um, so it's it's gone very, very well. Um, we're going to start ramping up. Approximately 1500 people today will get vaccinated. We hope in a few days four or five days to be up to 6000, uh, per day. Um, Well, we're starting off with the fighter for the first six weeks. The first three weeks will be first doses. And then that will repeat with the people who got there. First doses will come back, uh, for their their second doses. Uh, the seventh week in the eighth week. It's our plan to have Johnson and Johnson. So there's obviously will be a 11 shot in and done situation. Um, vaccination team will be putting shot in arm seven days a week. Eight. AM eight PM Um, we will be able to vaccinate a total with this particular help of this FEMA site, this national FEMA site. This partnership between the state and the federal government. Um, 210,000 people. Uh, so I want to I want to thank FEMA. I want to thank the President. President Biden, uh, for making this site available for us. These doses are on top of the other doses that we have received. So we're very, very, very happy about that. And again, 210,000 people will be able to be vaccinated because of this this site. And because of this, these extra doses a big focus for Ohio and for the White House has been equity ensuring that all Ohioans, no matter where they live, can get vaccinated if they choose to do so. Uh, this is part of why the Waldstein center was chosen for the clinic. Um, we we thought about this. We talked to a lot of different people and made the decision needed to be in in in northeast Ohio, Uh, and then came to the conclusion that, really, uh, the Waldstein Center on Cleveland State campus was the best place to do it. Um, Caio County alone is home to more than 12 million people within six miles of this site alone. There are more than 100 neighborhoods with higher than average social vulnerability, with the help of more than 300 local community partners. Um, who are going into neighborhoods, giving citizens information about the vaccines and helping them register. And I'm just going to name a few of them. But there, as I said, over 300 local partners. They include the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, the L A. C P, the Greater Cleveland Covid 19 Rapid Response Fund, Global Cleveland, the Hispanic Roundtable, faith based groups and many, many, many more. Uh, this is really an example of Ohioans coming together to make a difference, friend. I've had the opportunity to to travel all over the state, uh, in the last 10 days and what we have seen in community after community is volunteers coming together, uh, Ohioans in the individual county, uh, rallying together and as we've looked at the different sites. Frankly, we've seen every every type of site We've seen the National Guard, uh, into high rise senior citizens. Uh, housing. We've seen fairgrounds used for drive thru and in Marysville, for example. And just but the common denominator, every single places, people coming together, Ohioans coming together, uh, to to really, really make a difference. We had the opportunity just a moment ago to talk to some of the translators. We have translators here for, I think, six different languages on site to accommodate those who speak different languages so that every Ohio and vaccinate here has the best experience possible. If people have questions, our partners are offering free, also free transportation to and from the Waldstein Center. Uh, for those who need that transportation, uh, where we've also are working on plans to bring vaccinations directly into the neighborhoods. And we'll have more about that in the next few weeks. More announcements about about that. Besides this site, there's another 150 sites in Cuyahoga County alone where people can get, uh, the vaccination right now, those who are age 50 and older, plus those with certain medical conditions. Since can sign up for an appointment here in Cleveland or any of Ohio's 1300 vaccine providers throughout the state. So that's the number we are up to state statewide. As I said again, 150 of those locations right here in Cuyahoga County. So very, very exciting. Let me talk for a moment about where we are. Uh, today we will when the data comes out. Today, um, it will show over 2.4 million Ohioans have received their first dose, uh, 1/5 better than 1/5. Now of all Ohioans, That's not adults. Ohioans, that's all, Ohioans. Over 1/5 of Ohioans have received their first dose, Uh, and very happily we are now crossed over two thirds of those 70 years of age and older. And that number, well, we hope, will continue. But that is our most vulnerable population. So two thirds of those now have been vaccinated with at least their 1st 1st dose. As I said, friend, I've been really traveling around the state and just it just it is an amazing thing to see all the volunteers who are coming together to see what the local health departments are doing and all the other partners in in every in every single community. So I want to publicly thank all the volunteers, not just here. Not the people, just the people who are working the Waldstein Center, but people throughout the state of Ohio who really are or making a making a difference. Um, now, before we get the other speakers, I want to talk for a moment about where we're going from here in Ohio. The question that I get asked, of course, every day is when will my group be able to open up? When will I be able to get a vaccination? Uh, so, Fran, I spent the weekend talking to different health departments actually visiting where sites were taking place. Also this morning, I had the opportunity, as I do once a week to talk to all 113 health departments in the state on a on A on a conference call and try to ascertain exactly where we are. Um, as far as the vaccinations. Uh, my question to them this morning was, you know, are you filling up? How fast are you filling up? Have you had to cancel any any clinics? Uh, just exactly where you are. And the answer that we we got back was certainly mixed. Uh, in some parts of the state, there is a You know, there is more demand, frankly, geographically than than in other parts of the state. But the consensus from talking to the health departments who really have have their best view of what is going on the consensus at least was that we need to open up vaccinations even even further. Um, we've always had two goals, one goal, one main goal. The main goal is to say to save lives, and we do that, uh, in several ways. One is by focusing on the most vulnerable, and that's why we started in our nursing homes. That's why we started with people 80 and above. And we've continued to add medically fragile groups, uh, and and move forward on that. So, uh, we try to target what we are doing and work, and that I think has worked very, very well. But at the same time, there is an imperative that shot's not set any place that we get them taken up as quickly as possible. Friend, I have a friend shared this with some of you before friend. I have a friend. Um, I talked to him one day. He was getting his shot the next day. His first shot. Um, the next thing I heard a few weeks later, he had died. Uh, so he did not get the shot early enough. Uh, you know, if he got it a week before two weeks before, you know, maybe maybe that would have blocked him from getting the COVID. So that's just an imperative that we move as quickly as we can. This vaccine is still or Excuse me, this virus is still very, very, very much, uh, out there. Uh, we were and I were walking this morning through the through the Cleveland Clinic. Uh, and the red is the red is still up, uh, indicating exactly where where we are as as as a state. So, um, a moral imperative to get this out just as quickly as as we could Let me talk about supply. We are running this week About 400,000 coming into the state of Ohio. That is very significant. That's gone up, as you know, continues to go up next week. We don't know The exact number will be given that exact number later today, but we think it's going to be in the neighborhood of 400,000 doses the week of March 29th. We've had every indication from the federal government, the Biden Administration, that we will see a rather significant increase, Uh, for the week of March 29th. So this is all background as far as what I'm going to announce. So today we're going to extend eligibility. The extension of this eligibility will start on Friday morning this coming Friday morning. So I'm announcing that this Friday we will open eligibility to individuals who have one of five specialized medical conditions that may increase their risk of severe illness and death from covid. This is in addition to the other medical conditions that we have already announced. Um, this offers protection to these high risk individuals who are not already eligible through our age based approach to vaccines. Eligible individuals can receive a vaccine from the provider, of course, of their of their choice. We're calling this one e. This is what we're calling one e. This includes individuals with at least one of the following medical conditions there as follows. Cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, heart disease and obesity. So, again, there's a cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease and obesity. Uh, this group, we estimate, is approximately 766,000 Ohio ones who would not be otherwise eligible by age or other qualifying conditions. These are individuals who would be under the age of 40. Which brings me to the next um, phase. Second. What we're calling phase to see will also begin on Friday, March 19th. Phase two c will extend eligibility to all Ohioans who are 40 years of age and older. 40 years of Asian order. This eligibility is about 818 818 Ohioans between the age of 40 and 49. So if you look at those two again eligibility for Ohioans 40 and above 40 to 49 that adds 818,000. If you look at the five chronic disease conditions that we've listed today of those, those are individuals who are under the age of 40 and that is 766 1000 Ohioans who were added so between these two eligibility groups is about 1.6 million Newell Ohioans who will now be eligible so that everyone can plan. We're also announcing today that beginning on March 29th, every Ohioan will be eligible. That's all Ohioans age, 16 years of age and older. So again, I'm announcing that on March 29th, eligibility will open up in Ohio for every Ohio high one who is 16 years of age and older. It's important to note that teenagers who were 16 17 18, will only be eligible to get the fighter. Excuse me, 16 and 17 will only be able to get the Pfizer vaccine. The FDA emergency use authorization for the Moderna and Johnson Johnson vaccines only covers individuals aged 18 and older. So, Mr One little caveat There, um, I want to thank, um, everyone who's made today possible, and I want to talk for a moment about what's going on just in Cairo, Haga County and in the surrounding area. Although the mass vaccination clinic here at the Waldstein Center is certainly the biggest site in Ohio, it's not the only site. Now. It is the only FEMA sites. The only federal government partnership with the state. And again, I want to bank the Biden administration. Thank FEMA. You're going to hear from the acting administrator of this region in just a moment. I'm just a sly. They have been very great to work with. He has been great to work with, and we're very grateful for that. Eligible individuals can receive a vaccine from the provider of their choice. And as I said, Ohio HYO has 1300 providers statewide. We're also offering the vaccine at local health departments, pop up clinics, pharmacies, hospitals and other sites. Uh, this concludes, includes a number of providers, of course, right here in the Cleveland area. It has been remarkable to watch the Cleveland community Kharyaga County Community, rally around this single purpose to vaccinate residents just as quickly as humanly possible. Um, just a few that I want to. I want to mention and thank them for the great work city of Cleveland, where Frank Jackson has held vaccination events that neighborhood resource and recreation centers and school buildings located in areas where the most vulnerable residents have lived. Um, city officials also partner with local hospitals and local and state agencies to create mobile pods to vaccinate individuals residing and living and targeted congregate living facilities, including disabled residents and those living in recovery housing the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. And, well, thank both the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and the City Board of Health, both doing a great job. County Board of Health vaccinated 350 people in East Cleveland, just as another example, in partnership with the Salvation Army. Many local community and faith groups e M. A. Local media uh, MetroHealth and our federally Qualified Health Clinics County Board of Health. It's also been vaccinating people at the word church in Warrenville Heights. During the most recent clinic, they vaccinated about 1600 people. They're adding additional days and have worked with the local senior center and local agencies to reach the most vulnerable people in the community. In addition to the work that they do every day serving the underserved in their communities, the federally qualified health centers are doing a phenomenal job throughout the region, have partnered with local and state agencies with hospitals and community and faith leaders so that the at risk and their communities have easier access to the vaccines. MetroHealth. It's been vaccinating in homeless shelters in Cleveland. Working in partnership with both local health departments, MetroHealth got Johnson and Johnson vaccines have started using them to vaccinate individuals who are experiencing homelessness. MetroHealth also has operated several vaccination clinics in neighborhoods with large, underserved populations, including Bedford, Cleveland Heights and their Broadway clinic. They've been calling people, calling them on the phone to sign up for vaccinations with special emphasis on reaching communities of color. People of Color University Hospitals is one of the health systems in the state has stepped up to deliver vaccines to their patients to the public. Since Friday, U U H has administered, uh altogether U. H has administered 32,000 vaccinations to Ohio. Cleveland Clinic has provided at least one dose of vaccine to more than 100,000 individuals, including their caregivers, patients and community members. Last week, they have opened community vaccination sites at Langston Hughes Health and Education Center on the east side of Cleveland, and next week we'll open a vaccination site and Independence Click on Clinic has also reached into their community and vaccination and vaccinated 800 homebound individuals going out to people's homes in the Kiowa County in addition, the Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program, a partnership through the Ohio Department of Aging National Ohio National Guard, has provided vaccinations to over 1000 older adults in 17 affordable housing properties in the past several weeks in Cuyahoga County. Uh, and more to do, we're grateful for the partnership with the Cleveland Department of Public Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging. Uh, that program continues, and we'll get more sites as we move forward. We are also grateful to all these groups for their ongoing partnerships as we move forward. Also wanna mention this week. We're also launching mass vaccination sites, pop up clinics in Columbus, in Cincinnati. And in just a few weeks at the end of this month, we believe 15 regional mass vaccination clinics are opening throughout the state Again, these clinics would not be happening without the help of all local providers and local support. Before I turn, uh, ministry sly, I want to say thanks again to FEMA to FEMA. I'd also like to thank some of our other partners who helped us launch this mass vaccination site today, the city of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Cuyahoga County. You'll hear from Armand in a moment. Cleveland State University Department of Defense, as well as the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, university hospitals and all of our public health partners throughout the northeast Ohio region. Um, also want to thank the Department of Health, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency in Ohio National Guard Been really instrument in this, uh, as a reminder, Um, you must have an appointment to get vaccinated here, although they are also taking walk ins not to get vaccinated that day, but usually to people who walk in can can register as well for future days. So to reserve a time anyone can go to get the shot dot coronavirus dot Ohio dot gov Let's get the shot dot coronavirus dot Ohio Gov. We opened up a week's worth of appointments yesterday. They're filling very rapidly, and we also as we move forward, if they're if they're appointments that are canceled, we will in turn open those up as well. We're working very, very closely with our community partners and allotting slots for them if they have not used up their total with 48 hours before, as I announced on Sunday, we will open those up as well with that, let me let me hand it over to FEMA Acting regional administrator Kevin Sly. Kevin, thank you very, very much, Mr Administrator, We appreciate your your your good work. And I know this has been a real rush and things coming together for everybody this last week. We appreciate you coming in from Chicago. Thank you, sir. She good morning and thank you for joining us as we announced the official opening of the Wool Stein Center vaccination site To further expand equitable vaccine access across the Cleveland area. Expanding and expediting vaccine availability is a whole of government effort. I want to first recognize the support of the of President Biden and his administration and thank Governor DeWine, Ohio's EMA director, Some America, Chiyoda County executive Armand booed ish Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson along with our many federal partners at HHS, the CDC, d o. D. And others who have come together to bring northeast Ohio such a critical resource to help