NEARLY DOUBLE TO BE VACCINATED IN MARCH
The Allen County Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine clinic expanded to serve nearly twice as many Hoosiers each week when it began providing Pfizer shots in early March.
The Department began administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum beginning the week of March 8. The site has been using only the Moderna vaccine and averaging about 1,200 appointments each week because of limited availability of that vaccine. The transition to the Pfizer shots will allow the Department to increase capacity to serve closer to an average of 2,400 people each week.
“We are so grateful for the Coliseum site, which allows this expansion in capacity for the ongoing mass vaccination effort,” said Mindy Waldron, Department Administrator. “We look forward to increasing the number of Hoosiers vaccinated against COVID-19 over the next several weeks.”
The increase in appointments will not impact clinic hours at this time, and Department staff will be able to accommodate about 100 scheduled appointments each hour. Anyone who received their first Moderna vaccine at the Department’s clinic will still be able to receive their second scheduled dose of the same vaccine at that location.
“The sooner we get more people vaccinated, the sooner our community will be better protected from this deadly virus,” said Dr. Matthew Sutter, Allen County Health Commissioner. “Our team has been looking for avenues to get more vaccine, and this is a great example of how our partnership with the state can translate into more shots in arms in Allen County.”
Vaccine is still available by appointment only to those currently eligible as determined by the Indiana Department of Health, including Hoosiers 50 and older as well as to licensed and unlicensed healthcare workers and first responders who have face-to-face interactions with patients or infectious material or work in a public-facing position that requires in-person contact. Recently, teachers were also added to the list of eligible residents. Appointments must be made in advance at ourshot.in.gov or by calling 2-1-1 daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. No walk-ins will be accepted.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires two doses administered at least 21 days apart. Individuals will be able to schedule their second appointment at the Department’s clinic after receiving the first dose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after the second vaccination
> Read More Information About Us
> More Articles Written By Our Staff
- Community Invited To Paint Rocks For Urban League Project - April 26, 2024
- The “Bad Guys” In Your Garden & What To Do About Them - April 26, 2024
- Why Voting In The Primary Election Matters - April 26, 2024