COVID-19 vaccine

The Indiana Department of Health announced Tuesday it is pausing use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after national guidance to do so. The state is working to supply vaccination sites with other vaccines. 

GARY- A mass vaccination site is being placed in Gary by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the State of Indiana.  U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan and City of Gary Mayor Jerome Prince both commented on the initiative on Monday expressing their excitement.

Prince says the mass vaccination site will be a game-changer as we continue to fight this historic pandemic.  He thanked Congressman Mrvan, the State of Indiana, the city's federal partners and the Gary Community School Corporation for providing space at Roosevelt High School.

Hoosiers in northwest Indiana – and across northern Indiana – will soon have access to more COVID-19 vaccination opportunities. 

President Joe Biden has opened up federal COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to K-12 teachers and child care workers, with many in Indiana already making plans to get their shot at federal pharmacy program sites.

Indiana has provided the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines to 1,000,321 Hoosiers, in just more than two months – with nearly 569,000 Hoosiers fully vaccinated. The Indiana Department of Health announced the milestone Monday.

Hoosiers 55 and older can now register for appointments to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The Indiana Department of Health announced the expansion Tuesday.

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly is partnering with health care systems around the state to increase access and affordability around its COVID-19 antibody treatment. The company is working with the state of Indiana and health systems and has established three new infusion centers for its COVID-19 antibody therapy to treat those at high risk.

Today:   "Regionally Speaking's" Reporters' Roundtable includes "Post-Tribune" reporter Amy Lavalley's conversation with "Off Mic" host Michael Puente, on her story on Hammond resident and conservative influencer Kash Lee Kelly's arrest following the U.S. Capitol building assault earlier this month.  "Times" business reporter Joseph Pete also talks about his recent stories in print and online.  And Indiana Youth Instiute president-CEO Tami Silverman talks about her latest column, written and released in observance of Mentor Month. She speaks in particular about the I.Y.I. initiative MENTOR Indiana.

A bill that would give Hoosier workers the right to refuse employer-mandated vaccines had its first hearing in a committee Wednesday morning. It would go further than current federal laws and excuse workers based on their conscience.

Today:  Dr. Indra Frank, the environmental health and water policy director at the Hoosier Environmental Council, tells us about two bills now before the Indiana General Assembly that, if passed and enacted into law, would make improvements in coal ash disposal procedures for Hoosier coal-fired power plants.  State Representative Pat Boy and State Senator Karen Tallian are co-sponsors.  Dr. Frank has more on an online policy forum on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m. on the subject of coal ash disposal.  Indiana Public Broadcasting reporter Rebeca Thiele has a feature on the impact of power plant closings on the communities in which they are located.  The latest news on COVID-19 vaccines given out locally and across the state, and a report on how legislators are addressing redrawing political boundaries are also topics on the program today.

School leaders in Indiana are making plans for their staff to get vaccinated for COVID-19. In some counties, initial doses have already become available for teachers, while others are still waiting without much information about when they'll get their shot.

GARY - Gary Health Commissioner Dr. Roland Walker got a COVID-19 vaccination Friday morning at Methodist Hospital-Northlake.

Walker said he wants to demonstrate the importance and value of the vaccination to African-Americans, Hispanics and other people of color.

Michael Gonzalez, City of Gary Communications Director says Walker wanted to put people in his community at ease about the vaccine and has been a leader in keeping the residents of Gary informed during this entire pandemic.