The number of Bartholomew County residents who received their first COVID-19 shots declined last week, dropping to levels not seen since a snowstorm in mid-February forced vaccination sites to temporarily close and delayed shipments of vaccines.
Last week, 1,344 Bartholomew County residents received their first dose, down 680 from the week before and marking the fourth consecutive week of declines, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
By comparison, 3,320 first doses were administered to Bartholomew County residents the week of April 4, though 924 people that week were vaccinated at a mass vaccination clinic at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. The week after that, 2,477 people received their first dose.
The last time that fewer than 1,344 people received their first shot in a week was the week of Feb. 14, when 1,114 local residents were vaccinated after a snowstorm barreled across the state, forcing Columbus Regional Health and the Bartholomew County Health to temporarily shut down their clinics.
However, in the run-up to the snowstorm, an average of 1,837 Bartholomew County were receiving their first dose each week.
The last time that fewer than 1,344 people received first doses in a week without clinics being closed due to inclement weather was the week of Jan. 17, when 1,296 local residents received their first shots.
At the time, only Hoosiers ages 70 and up, as well as first responders and healthcare workers were eligible.
The decline in first doses administered to Bartholomew County residents comes as health officials across the country say interest in COVID-19 shots has started to wane, with some states leaving more than half their available doses unordered, The Associated Press reported.
Already more than 56% of American adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 105 million are fully vaccinated. The U.S. is currently administering first doses at a rate of about 965,000 per day — half the rate of three weeks ago, according to wire reports.
Locally, CRH is anticipating a drop-off in local demand for vaccines by mid- to late-May and local officials are preparing to shift to a more targeted vaccine rollout in the coming weeks, hospital officials said.
On Wednesday, CRH started offering walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations at its clinic in Columbus due to, in part, the projected decline in demand.
“It is concerning for our medical staff and professionals,” said CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue. “…I think we’re seeing a shift. Those who really wanted it, were waiting, were excited to get it most likely have gotten it.”
Currently, there are “two main audiences” in Bartholomew County that have not yet been vaccinated—those who are reluctant to get the shots and those who may have had issues accessing local clinics, DeClue said.
As of Wednesday morning, about 39% of eligible Bartholomew County residents, representing 30% of the county’s total population, were fully vaccinated.
That is far below what many public health officials say will be needed to reach herd immunity — the threshold experts believe is needed to stop uncontrolled spread of COVID-19.
Currently, most infectious disease experts agree that at least 70% to 80% of the population will need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
