The state this week widened the group of those eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to all Hoosiers 80 and older.
An influx of appointment requests Friday morning taxed the state’s registration portal ourshot.in.gov and caused long wait times for calls to 211 — the two ways to register for a shot.
Officials at Johnson County’s vaccination site, Johnson Memorial Hospital, are asking seniors to be patient and register first. The vaccine is available by appointment only and seniors should register through the proper channels, said Jeff Dutton, the hospital’s marketing director.
The vaccine registration site is designed to put visitors into a holding queue when volume is high, according to an Indiana State Department of Health news release. That can contribute to longer wait times or an error message, but Hoosiers should be able to check back at a later time to access the system, state officials said.
Just before noon Friday, the state’s registration portal at ourshot.in.gov had a wait time of about an hour and 20 minutes to register for an appointment.
“We are gratified by the high interest in vaccine registration for our most vulnerable Hoosiers and encourage everyone to be patient,” state health commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said in a statement. “We anticipated these scenarios on the first day and have a system in place to address them as quickly as possible.”
A total of 33,500 Hoosiers age 80 or older registered for free COVID-19 vaccines between 9 and 11:30 a.m. Friday, the first day of eligibility for this age group, according to the state health department. Among those registering, 21,000 people scheduled appointments during the first 90 minutes registration was open, state officials said.
To register, seniors or a caregiver authorized by a senior will be asked to provide a birthdate, and will be prompted to show identification at the vaccination appointment to prove eligibility, according to the state health department.
Likewise, health care workers and first responders will be asked to provide proof of their employment at the time of vaccination, officials said.
For seniors or caregivers having difficulty registering online or getting through to 211, the state health department suggests calling one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging for help. For the Area 8 agency that includes Johnson County, call 317-254-5465 or 800-432-2422.
Those eligible for the vaccine in northern Johnson County may be directed to get a vaccine at Community Hospital South or Franciscan Health Indianapolis, as both southside hospitals are also vaccination sites.
For those getting vaccinated at Johnson Memorial, officials suggest parking in Blue Lot H, off West Jefferson Street, and ask patients to enter through the old emergency department entrance, Building 1125 W.
No matter where the vaccination is given, appointments for the second dose will be made at the clinic when the first dose is administered.
Vaccines are free, but insurance may be charged an administrative fee.
