A mass vaccination clinic will open for eight weeks April 7 in Gary that is anticipated to assist over 100,000 Hoosiers in getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Governor Eric Holcomb made the joint announcement with FEMA Monday that the Indiana Department of Health, Indiana National Guard, and the Department of Defense will manage the Gary vaccination site at the former Roosevelt High School with support from FEMA, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the City of Gary, and the Lake County Emergency Management Agency.
The school, located at 730 W. 25th Ave. in Gary, was selected by FEMA based on its proximity to a large number of the state’s high-risk residents and medically underserved populations. It will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT until June 2.
A total of 2,000 vaccines per day will be administered at the clinic with an additional 1,000 doses per day to mobile units hosting clinics in underserved communities in Northern Indiana. The doses are in addition to Indiana’s regular statewide vaccine allotment, which is distributed to more than 500 vaccination clinics around the state.
The Roosevelt High School vaccination clinic will offer first doses of the Pfizer vaccine during the first three weeks of operation. A guaranteed second dose will be administered during the fourth, fifth, and sixth weeks of the clinic. The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be administered the final two weeks of the operation.
The Gary clinic will be a drive-thru operation but will be accessible to those who come by bus or other modes of transportation. Transportation assistance will be offered through IU Health in a partnership with Lyft.
Registration for this particular mass vaccination site will open later this week. Any eligible resident is able to get the vaccine, but officials will focus on high-risk and underserved citizens in Northwest Indiana to ensure they have easy access to appointments. Visit www.ourshot.in.gov for eligibility requirements.
