Indiana has begun to lag other states in getting people vaccinated for COVID-19 - and officials say that’s in part because the state isn’t getting as many doses.
Neighboring states have begun to open vaccine eligibility to all age groups. Indiana this week opened it to those age 45 and older. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said the state is working to open eligibility to all by May 1, the target date set by the Biden administration.
“Whether we have vaccine available to everyone who is eligible, though, depends on our supply of vaccine,” Box said.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only six states have received fewer doses per 100,000 people. Indiana is 17th in the country in population.
But Box said the federal government has indicated things should be looking up soon.
“We will all be receiving large amounts of vaccine by the last week of March and into April,” Box said.
Indiana’s population is about 6.7 million Hoosiers. Ohio has 11.7 million, Michigan has just shy of 10 million people, and Kentucky has about 4.5 million.
The state remains nearly on par with its Midwest neighbors. As of March 16, 19.2 percent of Hoosiers have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose compared to 21 percent in Kentucky, 20.8 percent in Ohio, and 19.9 percent in Michigan.
Gov. Eric Holcomb said he’ll deliver a statewide address Tuesday, charting a path for the state out of the pandemic.
Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.
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