COVID-19 cases are trending down in the county, with less than 100 a day reported since last week.
Local cases are following statewide and national trends after cases began to spike in mid-August, as the delta variant spread rapidly through communities. On Thursday, 90 cases were reported in Johnson County, and 3,936 cases were reported across the state, the highest single-day numbers seen all week, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
Johnson Memorial Hospital also has fewer COVID-19 patients this week. The hospital reached an all-time high of 22 patients two weeks ago, but that number steadily declined since then, said Dr. David Dunkle, the hospital’s president and CEO.
On Thursday, there were eight COVID-19 patients at the hospital, and two were on a ventilator. Last week, there were six patients on a ventilator, Dunkle said.
“For the first time in a long time I feel optimistic,” he said. “You have the people who are vaccinated, and then delta has swooped through and given those who are not some natural immunity. Now, you have the booster shots ready to be approved.”
The highest number of cases reported locally during the delta surge was on Aug. 25, when 159 new cases were reported to the state health department. The highest number of cases reported locally during the winter surge was on Jan. 6, when 249 cases were reported. During the winter surge, the highest number of hospitalizations at Johnson Memorial was 21, a record that was broken twice during the more recent delta surge, Dunkle said.
New cases are likely declining now because there are fewer people with no protection. When many people become immune through a vaccine or infection, fewer become infected because there are fewer vulnerable to infection, he said.
“This is the way it has happened in other areas. Delta is so contagious it blows through the population. We’ve reached the point where so many people have been infected it doesn’t spread as efficiently,” Dunkle said.
Of the 162,315 Johnson County residents, 81,731 — about 50% — are fully vaccinated, and at least 23,609 have tested positive for COVID-19. About 56,975 have no protection against COVID-19. Those nearly 57,000 residents are still at risk for infection and should get a vaccine as soon as they are able to, health officials recommend.
The Johnson County Health Department is still giving COVID-19 tests and vaccines in large numbers, said Betsy Swearingen, director. So far this week, the health department gave 853 tests, including 728 rapid tests. The department gave 173 vaccines.
Vaccine providers are now gearing up to give booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine to Americans who are older than 65 or otherwise at risk for a severe infection, and those who work in high-risk settings, such as health care workers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration approved booster shots for those groups this week. An FDA advisory panel recommended a booster for those groups last week.
The booster was found to be necessary to provide additional immunity to those groups because of their risk or potential exposure to the virus. A recent CDC study shows Pfizer is about 88% effective against hospitalizations. Neither Moderna nor Johnson and Johnson have applied for consideration of a booster shot. The CDC study shows Moderna’s vaccine still provides 93% effectiveness against hospitalizations, while the Johnson and Johnson vaccine’s effectiveness has dropped to 71%.
A booster shot is already available for immunocompromised individuals at local vaccine clinics per the CDC’s recommendation.
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Here is a look at where those 12 and older can get a vaccine:
Register for the following sites online at ourshot.in.gov:
Compass Park
When: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Where: Event Center, 690 State Street, Franklin.
Type: Moderna, limited doses of Pfizer.
Walk-in: Available
Adult and Child Health Franklin
When: Vaccines available on Fridays.
Where: 1860 Northwood Plaza, Franklin
Type: Moderna.
Walk-in: Available
Community Health Annex South
When: Vaccines available Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: 1346 East County Line Road, Indianapolis. Drive-thru clinic.
Type: Pfizer.
Walk-in: Available
Walmart and Sam’s Club Pharmacies
Where: All Walmart stores in Johnson County; Sams Club at 1101 Windhorst Way, Greenwood.
Type: Federal Retail Pharmacy, type may vary.
Appointments for the following sites are made with the pharmacy, vaccine type may vary:
Kroger Pharmacies
Where: All Kroger stores in Johnson County.
Registration: kroger.com/rx/covid-eligibility or call 866-211-5320, walk-in available
Meijer Pharmacies
Where: 2390 N Morton St, Franklin; 150 S Marlin Dr, Greenwood.
Registration: Text COVID to 75049, visit clinic.meijer.com/register.
Walgreens Pharmacies
Where: All Walgreens locations in Johnson County.
Registration: walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19
CVS Pharmacies
Where: All CVS locations in Johnson County.
Registration: cvs.com/vaccine/intake/store/covid-screener/covid-qns
Costco Pharmacy
Where: 4628 E. County Line Rd, Indianapolis.
Registration: costco.com/covid-vaccine.html
Source: Indiana Department of Health
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Community Health and Greenwood schools have partnered for two vaccine clinics. The Pfizer vaccine will be available to anyone 12 and older.
The clinics will be after school from 2:45 to 5:15 p.m. Oct. 5 and 26, at the high school cafeteria, 615 W Smith Valley Road, Greenwood.
Parents must be present for anyone under 18.
Walk-ins are welcome and reservations will be available on the school’s website at https://bit.ly/GWvaccine
Source: Greenwood Community Schools
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