THIS JUST IN: COVID-19 vaccine has arrived / Other city news

Thanks to Mayor’s Neighborhood Advocate Fabico Yatico and Mass Ave Merchants Association coordinator Chantel Stone, we’re able to pass along the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine procedures.

The vaccination of Hoosiers against COVID-19 has begun. Any Hoosier age 80 and older is now eligible to schedule a vaccination appointment, as are long-term care residents, first responders (fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, reservists and volunteers) who have in-person contact with the public and licensed and unlicensed healthcare workers who have in-person contact with patients or infectious material in any healthcare setting.

On Wednesday, state health officials expanded the audience to anyone over 70.

Hoosiers age 70 and older can schedule a vaccination at the link in the red bar above or by calling 2-1-1 if they do not have access to a computer or need assistance registering. Eligible professionals should receive an invitation and registration link from their employer, professional association, or the State of Indiana (Indiana Department of Health, Professional Licensing Agency, Family & Social Services Administration, Department of Homeland Security, or another state agency). If you are a licensed healthcare provider, make sure your email is updated with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and continue to check your email and SPAM. If you are eligible and haven’t received an invitation, please ask your employer.

Please be patient, as vaccine supply is limited. Additional groups will be eligible as soon as vaccine supplies permit.

Who is eligible to receive vaccine?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine:

  • Are you age 80 or older?
  • Do you work or volunteer in healthcare and have (physical or close) contact or face to face interactions with patients? Examples include:
    • Inpatient, outpatient, provider office setting, nursing homes, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, in-home services
    • This includes all clinical and non-clinical positions: clinicians, dietary, environmental services, administrators who have direct contact with patients, clergy who see patients in the healthcare setting, non-clinicians who assist in procedures, transportation staff, etc.
    • This also includes local health department staff who interact with patients at test sites, health clinics or provide direct patient care
  • Do you have exposure to COVID-19 infectious material? (Examples include cleaning of rooms or material from COVID-19 patients, performing COVID-19 testing, other exposure to infected tissue, performing autopsies or other post-mortem examinations of COVID-19 patients)
  • Are you a first responder (fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, reservists and volunteers) who has contact with the public and could be called to the scene of an emergency?

Click here for a list of who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  The timeline for additional phases of vaccine administration is yet to be determined. Check back here frequently for updates.

Received the vaccine? Make sure you sign up for the v-safe after vaccination health checker.

Other information provided by Yatico through the Mass Ave Merchants Association includes:

Christmas Tree recycling is still taking place from now until Jan. 31

DPW is providing 8 different drop off location sites, including Garfield Park, Ellenberger Park, Broad Ripple Park and Riverside Park. Trees must be free of ornaments, tinsel, tree stands, and all other decorative materials. 

Post Holiday Electronics Recycling Event

The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability (Sustain Indy) & RecycleForce are hosting a special post-holiday electronics recycling event at Krannert Park (605 S High School Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46241). This will take place Saturday, Jan. 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be free of charge. List of acceptable electronics can be found here.