Some local health facilities have started to receive doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine, while others are expecting their first doses to arrive next month as vaccine makers continue to roll out updated shots against recently circulating variants.
Columbus Regional Health has said shipments of the new COVID-19 vaccine are continuing to “slowly come in,” with some of the hospital system’s offices being prioritized for doses, officials said.
“Some offices are prioritized in receiving shipments based on their patient populations, so we recommend that people call their primary care office, the Bartholomew County Health Department or a local pharmacy to check on availability,” said CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue.
The Bartholomew County Health Department is expecting its first doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine to arrive after Oct. 1.
“I am not sure how many (doses) they will be able to send us initially,” said Amanda Organist, the department’s director of nursing. “We will continue to order for what is needed.”
At the same time, the Walgreens located on 2140 W. Jonathan Moore Pike and 2400 Beam Road in Columbus, as well as the Walgreens at 319 E. Tipton St. in Seymour and 9 N. State St. in North Vernon, have the new shots and had open vaccination appointments on Tuesday, according to the pharmacy chain’s website.
Additionally, the CVS pharmacies located at 2423 N. National Road and 4495 W. State Road 46 in Columbus, as well as the CVS location inside Target, also have the new vaccines and had open appointments on Tuesday, according to their website.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved new COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 season, making them available for everyone aged 6 months and older. The updated shots are tailored to offer better protection against recently circulating variants, aiming to reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and possible death.
New COVID-19 variants can bypass immunity from earlier vaccinations or infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine this fall and winter to enhance protection. The Mayo Clinic advises getting the shot as soon as it becomes available, with a three-month waiting period after infection or two months following an older vaccine dose.
A total of 663 people across the United States died from COVID-19 the week ending Aug. 31, according to the CDC. One person in a seven-county region that includes Bartholomew County died from the virus the week ending Aug. 31, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
Overall, 21 people were hospitalized in the local region due to COVID-19 the week ending Aug. 31, according to state records.
In addition to the updated COVID-19 shots, CRH said its outpatient offices have “good stock” of this season’s flu vaccine.
The Bartholomew County Health Department is planning to hold a drive-thru flu vaccine clinic on Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 2625 Foxpointe Drive and is urging everyone ages 6 months and up to get a flu vaccine. People who do not have insurance or whose insurance does not cover flu vaccines are eligible to get vaccinated for free.
