Federal vaccine supply limits

Indiana is reportedly receiving fewer doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government compared other states around the country. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box addressed this matter during the latest state update on Wednesday, March 17.

She explained, “We have said all along that the one thing that limits our ability to open up vaccine eligiblity more broadly is the amount of vaccine Indiana is receiving each week. The federal government determines our allocation. We always seek as many doses as possible.”

Box went on to cite one report about last week’s distribution that had Indiana ranked fifth from the bottom in doses delivered per 100,000 residents. She stated that on Tuesday, March 16, Indiana was 35th when it came to doses delivered per 100,000 residents even though Indiana is ranked 17th in total population.

She remarked, “Indiana appears to be receiving thousands of doses [per 100,000 residents] less than some other states, according to information we monitor on the CDC website. Our goal is to get more shots in arms in Indiana so we’re eager for the vaccine supply to increase substantially.”

Box was pleased to report that federal sources stated Indiana should begin to see a greater supply of all three vaccines the last week of March.

Even with the current system of distribution, approximately 20 percent of the state’s population has received a vaccination for the novel coronavirus.

Box reported, “In just three months time, nearly 2.2 million doses of vaccine have been administered in the state of Indiana. That total represents more1.3 million unique individuals which is an increase of Nearly 147,000 from last week.”

She continued, “Of those individuals, more than 870,000 are fully vaccinated, up from nearly 745,000 last week. This means that 12.7 percent of our population has received either two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.”

She noted that Indiana has administered more than 85 percent of received doses, which is above the national average of 80 percent. Commissioner Box added, “This demonstrates how quickly we are working to get vaccines, once received, into the arms of Hoosiers.”

Dr. Box noted that state officials are working to meet the federal directive to have all adults eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by May 1st but it will depend on the available supply.

Current eligibility guidelines and scheduling information can be found at ourshot.in.gov.