SUMMIT COUNTY — Summit County will begin administering the state’s second round of the COVID-19 vaccine to adults in Phase 1B on Tuesday, Jan. 19, officials said during a streaming press conference on Wednesday.

In Phase 1B, Summit County will receive a total of 5,700 doses, distributed by 11 entities at about 30 locations, Summit Health Commissioner Donna Skoda said.

Phase 1B includes people over 65, those with severe medical conditions, school staff and administration.

“You know, it's not the moon, but I'll tell you, it's a start,” Skoda said. “And we're happy to get it. And we're happy to put it in people's arms,” Skoda said.

At the same time, the county will finish vaccinating those in Phase 1A, she said. 

Phase 1A started on Dec. 14.

It includes health care workers, EMS and first responders, residents and staff at nursing homes, health care centers and other congregate living facilities, and workers in direct-care facilities, like hospice and kidney dialysis centers.

Summit County is administering two brands of the vaccine, which both require two doses: Moderna must be given 28 days apart, and Pfizer-BioNTech is given 21 days apart.

The vaccine will be distributed from a variety of sites, which include drive-up clinics, Skoda said.

To schedule an appointment, those who want a vaccine must to contact the agencies directly, including the health department, she said.

Being a Summit County resident isn’t a prerequisite, but proof of age is required, such as a government ID or driver’s license.

Summit County Public Health, which will receive 200 doses in Phase 1B, has posted a list of participating facilities on its website.  Each agency will have access to a couple hundred doses.

Residents also can sign up on the health department’s website to receive direct communication about the vaccination process based on their age, including notification if more vaccine becomes available, officials said.

In Phase 1B, the county will begin with people 80 and older. 

The estimated schedule drops the age limit by five years each week:

• Jan. 19 – 80 and older
• Jan. 25 – 75 and older, and people with severe congenital or developmental disorders
• Feb. 1 – 70 and older, and employees of K-12 schools
• Feb. 8 – 65 and older

None of the vaccine is wasted in Summit County, Skoda said, and officials anticipate getting additional doses each week.

“We're going to be very careful and very strategic in working through all of these groups, so I don't want people to panic,” Skoda said.

Residents often ask whether the health department can get more of the vaccine, but because it is a federal resource, the county cannot get more vaccine, said Chris Barker, Summit County Public Health emergency preparedness supervisor.

The vaccine is scarce, so health care officials are working quickly and asking for the public’s patience, he said.

Until everyone can be vaccinated, residents must continue to wear masks, practice social distancing and wash their hands often, Barker said.

No severe reactions to the vaccine have been reported in Summit County, several officials said and urged residents to get the vaccine without fear when it’s their time.

The process to develop the vaccine was complete, Skoda said.

“There were no steps that were skipped,” she said. “Ninety-five percent efficacy for a vaccine is very, very good.”

People are observed for 15-30 minutes after receiving the shot and, so far, a sore arm has been the most common reaction, she said.

On Thursday, the Ohio Department of Health will launch an interactive tool to help identify providers by zip code.

For more information, visit the Summit County Public Health website.

Those with no internet access can call Summit County’s Public Health COVID-19 Call Line at 330-926-5795.