COVID-19 cases locally and around the state have dropped for the third straight week, but that doesn’t mean Hoosiers are out of the woods yet, health officials said Wednesday.
There were 2,888 newly reported cases statewide, and 82 in Johnson County on Tuesday, according to the Indiana Department of Health. That’s the highest number of new cases reported for several days. Across the state, 65 new deaths from COVID-19 were reported, including three in Johnson County, data shows.
Peaks and valleys are expected as COVID-19 works its way through the population, a pattern that has emerged in data from across the country, Dr. Kristina Box, state health commissioner, said at a news conference Wednesday.
“The virus is not done with us yet. Do I expect the virus and the caseloads to get as bad as they have been in the past? God willing, no, that won’t be the case. But we will see times that this will elevate and go back down,” Box said. “Now is not the time to stop the mitigation measures that we know are working in schools and other places.”
That includes masking up, hand washing, testing if symptomatic, quarantining if infected, getting vaccinated and getting a booster shot when eligible, she said.
New CDC guidance makes Pfizer vaccines available to the following groups of people six months after their two-dose series: anyone 65 and older, those ages 50-64 with underlying conditions, those 18-49 with underlying conditions based on risk and benefit to the individual, and those 18 and older with an occupation that puts them at risk for contracting the virus, including healthcare, public safety, education, the postal service, manufacturing, grocery stores, correctional facilities, agriculture and public transit.
The FDA has only approved the Pfizer vaccine as a booster, so individuals who received the Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccines are not yet eligible for a third shot.
Booster shots are available at any site across the state that offers a Pfizer vaccine, Dr. Lindsay Weaver, state medical director, said during the news conference. Individuals are asked to attest they are eligible but are not required to show proof, she said.
Hospitalizations are down across the state, and have remained steady locally. There were eight COVID-19 patients at Johnson Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, down from about 12 several days before, said Dr. David Dunkle, hospital president and CEO.
The hospital reached its peak in early September when it had 22 COVID-19 patients.
The hospital’s overall census remains high due to non-COVID-related illnesses and an emergency room that’s been on diversion off and on, Dunkle said.
The best way to stay out of the hospital if infected is to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Of the 3.1 million Hoosiers who have been vaccinated, 33,851 have had breakthrough infections, and 735 have been hospitalized. Even fewer have died after getting vaccinated — 229 of the 3.1 million, data shows.
Both booster shots and COVID-19 vaccines are available without an appointment at multiple sites in the county, including retail pharmacies and the Johnson County Health Department’s Compass Park clinic.
The county health department gave 180 vaccines in the last week, said Betsy Swearingen, health department director. The department is gearing up as more people are getting vaccinated for the first time and fully vaccinated people come back for booster shots, she said.
In Johnson County, 82,391 individuals are fully vaccinated, which represents about 52% of the eligible population. About 55% of eligible Hoosiers are now fully vaccinated, according to the state health department.
Two local communities — Needham and Bargersville — surpassed 80% vaccination rates. Greenwood is hovering around 70%. About 50% of eligible residents in Franklin, Trafalgar, Nineveh and Whiteland are fully vaccinated. And Edinburgh continues to lag behind at 44%.
IF YOU GO
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
