HANCOCK COUNTY — Starting Monday, March 15, those who work in schools and similar settings in Indiana will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
The state is expanding eligibility to teachers and staff in pre-K through high school, childcare centers, Head Start and Early Start programs; licensed childcare providers, including center-based and family care providers; classroom aides; bus drivers; janitors; counselors; administration staff; cafeteria workers; and substitute teachers.
After starting with vaccinations for health care workers and first responders, the state’s roll-out has mostly been based on age. Gov. Eric Holcomb said earlier this week that the state’s upcoming expansion stems from the federal government’s directive to prioritize teachers.
Gina Iacobucci, who teaches U.S. history and government at New Palestine High School, said she’s looking forward to signing up for her vaccine next week. She said she was encouraged when eligibility opened to teachers last week through the federal government’s pharmacy partners like Kroger, Meijer and Walmart. When she tried Meijer, however, only a wait list was available, while Kroger required scheduling both doses, which was difficult to do.
The state’s vaccine program partners with sites like hospitals and health departments. At ourshot.in.gov, eligible Indiana residents can sign up for a vaccine through the state’s program, and access links to sign up through other providers.
Iacobucci said education is an important field to expand vaccine eligibility to.
“We have a lot of contact with other people, with our colleagues, with the students, every day,” she said, adding she probably interacts with about 100 students a day. “I think it just gives people peace of mind to know that they have the vaccine.”
The 27-year-old said she also got a lot of peace of mind knowing those most vulnerable to COVID-19 have had the opportunity to get vaccinated before her.
“I really, really wanted my grandparents to get the vaccine before I did, so I’m really glad that they put those people first ultimately.”
Harold Olin, superintendent of Greenfield-Central Schools, said he’s looking forward to vaccines being available to school workers too.
“They’ve obviously been on the front line really since July 31,” he said, referring to G-C’s first day of classes for the 2020-2021 academic year. “I think it’s certainly exciting for them to have that opportunity. It’s giving them some peace of mind that they’ve been looking for.”
The school corporation employs about 600.
Schools have been doing a lot to maintain safety throughout the pandemic, Olin said, like masking, social distancing and extensive cleaning.
“Those have been good, but this action is certainly the piece we’ve been looking for,” he said of the upcoming vaccine availability.
After school workers become eligible, the state will continue to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines as quickly as supplies permit, said Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer of the Indiana State Department of Health. She added the state’s eventual next expansion will be to those age 40 to 49.
Currently those 50 and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine in Indiana, along with health care workers and first responders. Vaccinations are also available to those with health conditions that put them at higher risk to COVID-19, who are receiving invitations to register for a vaccine from the state. Weaver said the state has added more conditions to that list, and with the help of health care providers, people with those conditions will also receive a unique link to sign up for a vaccine.
“If you are in your 50s, I encourage you to sign up for your vaccine as soon as possible,” Weaver said. “We are seeing a lower pace of vaccine scheduling in this group, and want to encourage Hoosiers to get this protection as soon as it is available to them.”
Tim Livesay, director of pharmacy for Hancock Regional Hospital, one of five COVID-19 vaccine clinics in the county, said that appears to be happening locally too. As of Thursday morning, the clinic was booked out 11 days, he said. When vaccine eligibility included only those 80 and older, those in their 70s and even somewhat into the 60s, availability was pushed out further — up to two weeks or more, he added.
“In talking to people around in general, there just seems to be a lot more apprehension among people in their 50s and lower, and some just don’t think it’s necessary,” Livesay said.
He encourages those uncertain about COVID-19 vaccines to have a conversation about them with someone in the medical field they know and trust.
“There’s so much information out there that is bad and good both, and you just don’t know where to turn to,” he said. “You just got to talk to somebody you can trust.”
As of Wednesday evening, the hospital’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic had completed 18,318 appointments, 7,186 of which were second doses, Livesay also said.
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Indiana has made COVID-19 vaccinations available to health care workers, first responders, those with certain underlying health conditions and individuals age 50 and older. Starting Monday, March 15, the state will join the federal government’s pharmacy partners in offering vaccines to school workers. Information on signing up for a vaccine is available at ourshot.in.gov. Assistance signing up for a vaccination at state-supplied sites is available by calling 2-1-1. The Indianapolis VA Medical Center is offering COVID-19 vaccination to enrolled veteran patients 18 and older. Enrolled veteran patients can call 317-988-4899 to schedule their appointment.
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COVID-19 data through early Thursday, March 11
Hancock County
- 352 new tests administered (Feb. 1-March 10)
- 15 new cases (March 10)
- 2.9% seven-day (Feb. 26-March 4) positivity rate all tests, 10% cumulative rate
- 1 new death (March 2)
- 88,385 total tests administered
- 39,066 total individuals tested
- 7,502 total cases
- 7.2% seven-day (Feb. 26-March 4) positivity rate unique individuals, 19.2% cumulative rate
- 135 total deaths
- 17,463 first vaccine doses administered
- 11,378 fully vaccinated
Indiana
- 45,463 new tests administered (Aug. 25, 2020-March 10, 2021), 5,932 new individuals tested
- 922 new cases
- 3.1% seven-day (Feb. 26-March 4) positivity rate all tests, 9.6% cumulative rate
- 32 new deaths (Feb. 21-March 10)
- 8,353,553 total tests administered
- 3,166,538 total individuals tested
- 670,074 total cases
- 8.6% seven-day (Feb. 26-March 4) positivity rate unique individuals, 21.2% cumulative rate
- 12,382 total deaths
- 63% ICU beds in use – non-COVID
- 4.5% ICU beds in use – COVID
- 32.5% ICU beds available
- 18% ventilators in use – non-COVID
- 1.5% ventilators in use – COVID
- 80.5% ventilators available
- Hospital census: 598 COVID-19 patients (351 confirmed, 247 under investigation)
- 1,203,613 first vaccine doses administered
- 771,091 fully vaccinated
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
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