The Boone County Health Dept. will work with the Indiana State Dept. of Health to reschedule vaccination appointments for residents whose scheduled appointments were canceled the week of Feb. 15, Claire Haughton, the BCHD’s public health educator, said.
Because of inclement weather the week of Feb. 15, the BCHD closed its vaccination clinic at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds, as did at least 79 other vaccination clinics across Indiana, according to state health officials.
“We were under some pretty serious travel advisories,” Haughton said Feb. 17. “For the last couple days, they’ve discouraged any nonessential travel, so we opted to cancel the clinic. And Boone County – while we do have some municipal areas – it is primarily rural. So we were really concerned about those folks who live out in the country and also the seniors who are maybe stuck in their driveway still.”
BCHD representatives called residents who had appointments scheduled during days the clinic was closed or sent an email outlining next steps. Haughton said the ISDH contacted some residents through calls and emails to assist in rescheduling appointments.
“We are having a regularly scheduled clinic for (Feb. 23) and (Feb. 24), so that would mean we would be having even more people come to the clinic,” Haughton said. “But our volunteers have been absolutely amazing. I don’t think handling the influx of patients will be an issue.”
Haughton said she didn’t believe the clinic would need to extend operating hours to accommodate any additional appointments on Feb. 23 or Feb. 24. The BCHD’s vaccination clinic is open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
At the fairgrounds vaccination clinic, volunteers can vaccinate approximately 10 residents every 10 minutes, Haughton said.
“Most of them have said if (they) could do more (vaccinations), they think they could manage that,” Haughton said.
The State of Indiana allots the BCHD approximately 1,300 vaccinations each week, BCHD officials said. The fairgrounds vaccination clinic has the capacity to administer approximately 2,600 vaccinations a week, BCHD officials have said.
When looking to reschedule canceled appointments, Haughton encouraged residents to consider scheduling an appointment at clinics outside of the county if earlier appointments are available.
Eligible Indiana residents can schedule a vaccination appointment at ourshot.in.gov or by calling 2-1-1.