Gov. DeWine Announces New Incentive for Young People to Get Vaccinated; Makes Pleas for Bus Drivers

Governor Mike DeWine on Thursday stated that keeping kids in school, in-person, five days a week, remains a priority.  

He said the best way to do that is to get students vaccinated.  

To encourage eligible kids to get vaccinated, DeWine announced the Ohio Vax-2-School program, which will be open to Ohioans aged 12 to 25 years old, and will be similar to the scholarship portion of the Vax-a-Million program. 

Prizes will include 50 scholarships worth $10,000 each and five $100,000 scholarships to an Ohio college or university for career or technical education.  

Prizes will be announced Monday through Friday beginning the week of October 11th.  

More details will be announced, including how to register, in the coming days.

Governor DeWine also made a public plea, after hearing from school districts across the state about the shortage of bus drivers. 

He asked any Ohioan with a CDL license that also has a bus driver certification, who are not employed, to contact their local school district, to help drive school busses temporarily.

DeWine also spoke with Attorney General Dave Yost who agreed that the Bureau of Criminal Investigation would prioritize required background checks for school bus drivers, educators, nurses, and other health care professionals.