Hamilton County has been among the state’s most prolific counties in providing COVID-19 vaccines, and it is prepared to more than triple the amount being given daily.
But there’s not yet enough vaccine available to make that happen.
The Hamilton County Health Dept. opened its COVID-19 vaccination site Jan. 11 at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville. It provided 750 doses in its first week and 1,100 the second week. The county expects to receive enough vaccine to provide 1,600 first doses per week beginning in mid-February, according to HCHD Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Christian Walker.
However, Walker said the county has a plan and resources available to vaccinate up to 3,500 people each week. Walker said it’s not clear when the county will receive enough vaccine to make that happen. The county receives its allotment from the Indiana State Dept. of Health, which is responsible for allocating the doses to Indiana’s 92 counties.
The vaccine is available in Indiana to residents who are at least 70 years old, health care workers and first responders. Vaccine appointments in Hamilton County are booked through nearly the end of February, Walker said.
“The demand is far, far outpacing supply right now,” Walker said, adding that more appointments will be added as the county receives additional vaccines.
As of Jan. 25, 27,946 residents — or 8.6 percent of Hamilton County’s population — had received at least a first dose of the two-dose vaccine from the HCHD or the other vaccination sites in the county. Of the counties with larger populations than Hamilton County, Marion County had vaccinated 5.7 percent, Lake had vaccinated 5.2 percent and Allen had vaccinated 6.3 percent of its residents.
Of the 17 counties with 100,000 or more residents, only Vanderburgh County had vaccinated a higher percentage of its residents, at 11.2 percent, than Hamilton County.
In addition to HCHD’s vaccination site, the vaccine is being administered in Hamilton County at Riverview Hospital in Noblesville, IU Health North in Carmel, Ascension St. Vincent in Carmel and through the Fishers Health Dept. at 12520 E. 116th St. Learn more and schedule an appointment at ourshot.in.gov.
