More Hoosiers are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine as Indiana begins its new phase.
Indiana residents ages 65 and older can now sign up and receive their COVID-19 vaccine. Just because Indiana is in the next phase of the vaccine rollout doesn’t mean those who were previously eligible can no longer sign up.
Indiana is now administering COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna to Hoosiers age 65 and older, as well as frontline health care workers like doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who directly interact with vulnerable patients.
Emergency medical services workers and long-term care residents and staff are also among the state's top priority group.
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Hoosiers who are eligible to be vaccinated can make an appointment at a local clinic online or by calling 211.
You can find a local clinic through the state's online vaccine portal. At least one vaccine clinic has been set up in each county, but you may not be able to get a shot right away given the high demand for them. A caregiver or loved one can make an appointment on your behalf.
The state has developed tiered priority groups based upon guidance from a CDC advisory panel. Phase 1-A consists of health care workers, first responders like police officers and firefighters, and long-term care residents and staff.
\Indiana is still working to completely vaccinate this group and has not released updated plans about who is next in line after people at least 80 years old.
Where can I get a Vaccination and How Much is it? What about wearing a mask?
You can get a vaccine at certain hospitals and pharmacies and through local health departments throughout the state.
Vaccines are also available at some Meijer and Kroger grocery stores and Walmart locations. Indiana health officials are maintaining an online list of vaccine providers.
The federal government is covering the cost of the vaccine itself.
However, the CDC says vaccine providers may still charge a fee for giving someone a shot in some states. Indiana’s health department says administrative fees can be reimbursed through private or public insurance plans.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services also has said the vaccine will be administered free with no copays to Medicare beneficiaries.
Experts still need to learn more about the protection the vaccines provide under “real-life conditions,” the CDC says. It could take your body a few weeks to build up immunity after the second dose of a vaccine.
The vaccine is one tool that can help slow the spread of the coronavirus. The CDC says it could take months for the population to build up immunity, and it continues to recommend preventive measures such as face masks and social distancing.
