Citizens age 80 years and older encouraged to register for appointments
The Hamilton County Health Department will begin vaccinating people older than 80 years of age starting Monday, Jan. 11. Those who fall into this age group can register for an appointment at ourshot.in.gov or by calling 211.
“We are really concentrating on saving lives and reducing hospitalizations,” Dr. Lindsay Weaver, Chief Medical Officer for the State Department of Health, said during a news conference Wednesday. “We know that in Indiana age is the biggest contributor to severe disease and death from COVID-19. This age group alone accounts for 52 percent of the state’s virus-related deaths.”
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Weaver
The Hamilton County Health Department is expected to receive 800 doses of the vaccine next week. It will administer the shots at the Annex Building at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“We hope to administer at least 160 vaccines a day,” said Christian Walker, emergency preparedness coordinator for the Hamilton County Health Department. “But that will depend entirely on if we get the vaccine we’ve been promised and how many people make appointments.”
Caregivers with a loved one who is 80 or older can register on their behalf. Individuals can also call 211 for help with transportation. Vaccines are free, but if you have insurance you should provide that information upon registration. All recipients must prove they live or work in Indiana.
Once those older than 80 years of age are vaccinated, the State Department of Health will open vaccination registration to folks between the ages of 70 and 79, followed closely behind by people ages 60 to 69.
More than 20,000 people register in first 90 minutes for COVID-19 vaccine
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Thousands of Hoosiers age 80 or older registered for free COVID-19 vaccines on Friday, according to Indiana State Department of Health officials.
ISDH says 33,500 Hoosiers registered for the vaccines before 11:30 a.m. Friday. More than 20,000 people scheduled their appointments in the first 90 minutes after registration opened.
Hoosiers who would like to register for the vaccine can do so online or by calling 211 or, for additional help, by contacting one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging.
Caregivers or family members of eligible seniors can also make a vaccination appointment on their behalf.
ISDH is asking Hoosiers to be patient as they may encounter wait times due to a high volume of scheduling.