COLUMBUS — Only 40% of the COVID-19 vaccine distributed to Ohio has been administered to people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What You Need To Know

  • 303,522 of the 751,250 vaccine doses sent to Ohio have been administered

  • OSU doctor warns of dangers of not quickly distributing doses
  • COVID-19 continues to spread at an alarming rate

Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser with OSU’s Wexner Medical Center is one of the 303,522 who has received the first dose.

“The feeling of elation, that feeling of hope, the feeling of liberation from really what has felt like an oppressive way to live for the better part of the year. It’s incredible,” he said. “I wish that for everybody.”

Gonsenhauser said OSU has been successful at getting doses administered.

While 60% of the vaccine across the state is still waiting to be used, people remain at risk of getting the disease that has killed more than 9,700 people in Ohio.

“If the vaccine is not making it into people's arms, it's not doing anybody any benefit, any good,” Gonsenhauser said. “Furthermore, it can actually be harmful to our community if it's not making it into our patients' arms because there is a limited period of time for some of the vaccines supply that if you haven't used it, it's no longer viable.”

He said it will still take months for the rest of the population to get the shot.

In the meantime, the spread of COVID-19 continues to grow at an alarming rate.

“As of right now, we're still seeing those numbers on the way up across the nation,” he said. “There are pockets of good news. But all in all, it's still moving in the wrong direction.”