Southern Indiana sites awaiting doses, prepared to give out COVID-19 vaccine

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WAVE) - As the Broadbent Arena serves as a mass vaccination site in Louisville, Hoosiers are preparing similar locations across Southern Indiana.

“We will start a multilane car line at Indiana University Southeast as soon as they can get vaccine to us,” Dr. Tom Harris, Floyd County Health Officer, said.

Harris recently said that could happen as soon as next week. As of now, vaccine distribution in Indiana is limited to medical workers and first responders.

Harris said he hopes to expand that to tier 1B by mid-January and ultimately host the majority of vaccinations at IUS.

In Clark County, a mass vaccine location outside of the former Hobby Lobby store on E. Lewis and Clark Parkway is expected to start vaccinating first responders and healthcare workers next week.

Vaccine distribution will continue at Clark Memorial Hospital, Clark County Health Officer Dr. Eric Yazel said.

Michelle Matern, the administrator of the Scott County Health Department, said her team will leverage the setup of its flu shot clinic to meet the needs of the pandemic.

“We do an annual drive-thru flu shot clinic,” Matern said. “So, we’re fortunate enough that we kind of have everything already in place. So, we’re just replacing the flu vaccine with our COVID vaccine.”

Vaccine distribution will take place primarily at the health department in Scott County.

“It kind of worked out,” Matern said. “A few years ago the county bought us an old car dealership. So, it has lots of bays in it that are already ready to go.”

Administrators expect to give out their first doses next week.

“We’re probably going to move through some of the tiers a little bit quicker than some of the bigger counties in Indiana,” Matern said. “So, we do work with the state on that. Right now, it’s healthcare workers, first responders.”

She said the department’s primary goal is to vaccinate people and make sure nothing goes to waste.

“We get a lot of calls a day wanting to know if it’s their time,” she said. “We’re just as anxious to get everybody vaccinated as the community is. So, just be patient and go get it whenever it is your time.”

Learn more about the Indiana vaccine roll out here.

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