Ohio University's main campus will be used as a site for COVID-19 vaccine administration

Ohio University administrators are excited to open the new Heritage Hall to local health officials for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The newly constructed building will eventually be the home to the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. For now though, it will serve as a major site for vaccine distribution to frontline workers. As a brand new state-of-the-art medical facility, Heritage Hall was chosen because of the medical technology available, centralized location, and ample parking.

Throughout the pandemic, Ohio University and the Athens City-County Health Department have worked together to keep students and community members safe. In a release from the university, Athens City-County Health Department Administrator Jack Pepper spoke about the relationship, "We are grateful to Ohio University for the quick planning that will allow us to offer vaccines to Phase 1a recipients in Athens County. We value the continued collaboration, which will provide a facility to help our department administer the vaccine as quickly as possible."

Heritage Hall was set to open later this year as the home of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Thankfully, the building is ready for occupancy and is available to serve the needs of the community for the vaccination process. Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Executive Dean Kenneth Johnson, DO said of the arrangement, "We designed our new facility to promote innovative medical education while also improving community outreach. I can think of no better way to christen our building than utilizing it as part of the historic efforts to eradicate the global pandemic." Heritage hall was built using $21 million of a $105 million award from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation.