State health officials still encourage residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said in a press briefing Wednesday afternoon that there are many benefits to getting the vaccine.
“Being fully immunized means you’re protected from a disease that has claimed more than 13,000 lives here in Indiana,” stated Dr. Box. “It means you can go out to dinner without worrying about social distancing and masks. It means you’re fully vaccinated student athlete won’t have to miss practice or games or school if he or she is listed as a close contact to a positive case, so long as your child does not develop symptoms. It means that if you work in a long-term care facility you do not have to routine COVID testing if you’re fully immunized.”
Indiana State Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver noted that the odds of a vaccinated individual getting COVID-19 are very low.
Dr. Weaver commented, “Our findings show that unvaccinated Hoosiers make up 99.3 percent of COVID-19 cases in Indiana. If you are not vaccinated, your odds of getting COVID are 1:29, while your odds of being hospitalized with COVID are approximately 1:525. If you are fully immunized, your odds of being hospitalized decrease to 1:50,394.”
Dr. Weaver added there are 700 locations in the state with vaccines available. Hoosiers 12 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine will be administered to those 18 and younger. The Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available to all other Hoosiers. Appointments can be made by visiting www.ourshot.in.gov or by calling 211. Many locations do not require an appointment. Those available clinics are listed on that website.
