Twenty-one thousand Hoosiers signed up for a COVID-19 vaccine in the first 30 minutes after the state expanded eligibility Wednesday. During Wednesday’s press conference, State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said that number was up to 96,000 by noon.
“Today’s the day we’ve all been waiting for, the day that any Hoosier age 16 and older can schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment,” Box said. “This means that any Hoosier who falls within the age groups for which the vaccine has been authorized now has the opportunity to be vaccinated against this disease.”
Box also announced that vaccination sites will no longer require people to show proof of residency. “We have made this change for several reasons: to comply with requirements at the FEMA site, we also know that some individuals may live in a household with multiple individuals but lack a document that shows an Indiana address, and students at colleges and universities or even some people in Indiana workplaces may live out of state but spend a significant amount of time in Indiana. We want to remove any barrier,” Box explained.
Northwest Indiana’s vaccination opportunities will get a major boost next week, as FEMA plans to open an eight-week mass vaccination site at the former Gary Roosevelt High School. On top of that, two mobile units will be able to administer up to 1,000 doses per day in nine Northern Indiana counties.
Box said the hope is that those who live or work in Indiana would still be the ones getting the vaccine here and noted that Chicago has its own mass vaccination site. Still, she felt the expanded capacity will help ensure that all Northwest Indiana residents who want a vaccine will be able to get it.
Indiana Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver said plans are being finalized to offer vaccination clinics at some large employers and college campuses.
