Enrolled vaccine providers may now vaccinate employees and partner with employers to provide vaccines

Beginning April 12, 2021, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) will permit enrolled vaccine providers to vaccinate their employees, and use their vaccine supply to partner with and support other employers or organizations and their vaccine programs, which may be conducted on-site at the employer’s workplace or off-site in the community. 

The new ODH guidance, updated on April 8, 2021, encourages vaccine providers that have been providing vaccines to the public to expand their reach to include partnering with businesses and organizations. According to ODH, as vaccine supplies increase, making vaccines easily available and convenient to employers and organizations and their employees or members is a priority.

The guidance provides that employers should prioritize giving vaccines to those employees who are at greatest risk for exposure to COVID-19 due to their job duties, including employees who must regularly interact in person with customers and members of the public.

For those employers who are able and choose to conduct a vaccination program on-site in partnership with an enrolled vaccine provider, the ODH guidance lists some special considerations, including:

• The planning process for hosting a workplace COVID-19 vaccination program should include input from management, human resources, employees and labor representatives, if present.
• Vaccination providers must prepare to monitor for and manage potential anaphylaxis after vaccination.
• Workplace vaccination clinics must offer vaccination at no charge and during work hours.
• Employers must provide easy access to vaccination for all people working at the workplace, regardless of their status as a contractor or temporary employee.

ODH reports that a list of enrolled vaccine providers available to partner with employers to provide vaccines to their employees will be available soon and published on its website.