VERNON — COVID-19 vaccinations are now being administered to Jennings County residents at the Jennings County Health Department.
The first round of vaccinations was administered this past week to people who were 80 years or older, living in long-term care facilities, first responders, and healthcare workers.
On Wednesday, the Indiana State Department of Health announced that those 70 and older can also now register for vaccination.
“We are following the directions of the ISDH, and we only know what they tell us on a week-to-week basis,” said Jennings health nurse Pam Petry.
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Because of the many requirements necessary to ensure the safe distribution of the vaccine, the state is maintaining strict control over the vaccinations.
Petry said that while the Jennings County Health Department did not know when the first vaccinations would arrive, who would be eligible, or even how many vaccinations they would receive; the health department had been busy preparing to begin distribution of the vaccine.
“We stayed in contact with other counties to study how they were going to do things,” Petry said. “We (staff) all got our shots at Columbus Regional Hospital, and I was very impressed with how they were set up. We incorporated that into our plans.”
Not only must each county go through the ISDH to give the vaccine, but individuals must go through the ISDH to be eligible to get the vaccine.
In order to receive a vaccination, each citizen must make an appointment through the state website at ourshot.in.gov.
Those unable to sign up online can call 211 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for assistance with scheduling their appointment.
Once inside the website, a person can choose a county other than the county where they reside.
“We have actually had several people from other counties get their shots in our office, but everyone must go through the state website to get an appointment at any county” said JCHD office manager Peggy Roe.
According to Roe, JCHD inoculated more than 150 people last week, and that number will continue to increase as the vaccine is available.
The JCHD has been operating their office with a skeleton staff to begin the vaccinations, but expect to expand the staff next week.
“We are tired, but we are also excited,” Roe said. “We are tired because the initial demand for vaccinations has been greater than we anticipated. We are booked up until February with a long waiting list. We are excited because the vaccinations will save lives and will bring an end to all of this.”
Roe said she expected additional vaccination sites will be made available throughout the state.
“I doubt that we will have additional sites here, but that will still speed things up everywhere,” added Roe.
Though the appointment for the initial shot can be made through the ourshot.in.gov site; the appointment for the second dose of the vaccine is made in the office where the first shot was administered.
“It is important to remember while it is easier to schedule the second shot, you still have to confirm the appointment for the second shot through the state,” Roe said.
Petry asked that the public “try to be patient and wait your turn. We still have a long way to go but we can all get there by working together.”
