The Boone County Health Dept. has administered more than 10,000 doses at its Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds vaccination clinic.
“I think it just goes to show how successful our clinic has been,” BCHD Public Health Educator Claire Haughton said. “We have received absolutely nothing but compliments from the people that have come into the clinic.”
Haughton said the clinic’s success is due in part to the many volunteers who have staffed the clinic and allowed the BCHD to inoculate Hoosiers at a faster rate than it would have been able to if solely staffed by department employees. For example, on March 20, more than 460 people were vaccinated at the clinic, and Haughton said volunteers and BCHD staff were able to inoculate the Indiana residents at a comfortable pace, scheduling several appointments in 10-minute slots throughout the day.
“It goes to show how overwhelming the interest in the vaccine is,” Haughton said. “They might have been a little concerned, but they’re coming around to it. I’ve observed that the overall mood in the clinic is very hopeful. People know that once they finish up their vaccine regimen they can feel considerably safer about checking in with their loved ones and seeing their loved ones, maybe, for the first time in a year.”
Indiana health officials have said the state plans to open COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all adults in coming weeks: The federal government has directed Indiana, along with all other states, to open COVID-19 eligibility to all adults by May 1. As of press time, Haughton said she was unaware if the BCHD had discussed preparations for the expected increase in demand for COVID-19 vaccines.
The BCHD reported 43 additional cases the week of March 13 and a test positivity rate of 7.6 percent. The department begins its reporting weeks on Fridays. The week of March 6, it reported 113 additional cases, many of which dated back to January and were added after an Indiana State Dept. of Health data audit. To date, the BCHD reports 96 COVID-19 deaths in the county.
Haughton said the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and spring break vacations worry health officials and could lead to spikes in COVID-19 metrics. She advised residents continue to social distance, wear masks, avoid poorly ventilated spaces, large crowds and wash their hands.
