Hoosiers Age 16 And Older Now Eligible For COVID-19 Vaccine

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana opened up COVID-19 vaccinations Wednesday to all Hoosiers age 16 and older in the latest expansion of the state's vaccination efforts days before it plans to lift a statewide mask mandate.

Gov. Eric Holcomb had announced Wednesday's planned expansion to those 16 and older last week, while also announcing plans to lift the mask mandate and remaining COVID-19 business restrictions on April 6.

Indiana's expansion of vaccine eligibility for youths and people in their 20s comes two days after state health officials expanded vaccine eligibility to people ages 30 to 39.

The Indiana Department of Health said that during Monday's first day of vaccine eligibility for people in their 30s more than 79,000 Hoosiers in that age group signed up to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box has said that is “imperative” that every eligible adult get inoculated against the coronavirus.

Holcomb, Box and other state officials were scheduled to provide an update on the state’s fight against COVID-19 on Wednesday afternoon during a weekly news briefing.

As of Tuesday, a total of 1,630,152 first doses of vaccine have been administered across Indiana, and 1,109,238 — more than 16 percent of Indiana’s population— have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Eligible Indiana residents can schedule an appointment to receive a vaccine by visiting https://ourshot.in.gov or calling 211 if they do not have access to a computer, or require assistance.