State officials on Monday expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to Hoosiers 65 and older.
Before this week, vaccine eligibility opened in 10-year increments.
The five-year expansion this time represents a more cautious approach due to a limited national supply of vaccines, according to an Indiana State Department of Health news release.
The expansion continues Indiana’s age-based approach to expanding eligibility. The goal is to reduce hospitalizations, save lives and protect vulnerable populations, state health officials say.
The age-based approach is expected to continue down to 60. Hoosiers 60 and older represent 22.5% of the state’s population, but account for 64.1% of hospitalizations and 93.3% of COVID-19 deaths.
Vaccines, right now, are available to Hoosiers 65 and older, health care workers and first responders.
Locally, Monday was a slow day for vaccinations; just 124 doses were on the schedule due to a problem with the scheduling software, said Betsy Swearingen, director of the Johnson County Health Department. But the light schedule was isolated to Monday, with a full schedule set for the rest of the week, she said.
Some local seniors had difficulty getting an appointment because the online platform incorrectly shows that all appointments for the health department’s joint clinic with Johnson Memorial Hospital are fully booked to March, Swearingen said. The health department alerted the platform vendor of the error, and expects it to be updated soon, she said.
In the meantime, Swearingen asked seniors to be patient.
The vaccine is free at multiple sites throughout Johnson County, including Johnson Memorial Hospital, Kroger stores in Greenwood, Franklin and Bargersville, Windrose Health Clinic in Edinburgh, the Greenwood Walmart Pharmacy on Emerson Avenue, and Adult and Child Health’s Northwood Plaza Primary Care Center in Franklin.
Appointments at JMH, Windrose Health, Adult and Child and Walmart can be made online at ourshot.in.gov.
For Kroger vaccinations, visit kroger.com/rx/guest/get-vaccinated or call your preferred pharmacy.
For help registering, Hoosiers may call 211 or contact one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging for assistance. For the Area 8 agency that includes Johnson County, call 317-254-5465 or 800-432-2422.
The Johnson County Public Library is also offering help, and patrons may call their local library branch for assistance.
A caregiver or loved one may make an appointment on behalf of an eligible senior.
The vaccine is available by appointment only, regardless of vaccination site.
