The Indiana State Department of Health is bringing a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic to the Jackson County Fair this year.
The clinic will be set up at the EMS station near the main entrance to the fair. It will be open from noon to 9 p.m. July 29, 30 and 31.
“This mobile vaccination site is one more way we are working to give all Hoosiers convenient access to COVID-19 vaccine in their communities,” state Health Commissioner Kris Box said in a news release. “I encourage everyone who hasn’t been vaccinated yet to take advantage of this safe, effective vaccine, which is the best protection we have against this virus.”
Dr. Christopher Bunce, Jackson County health officer, said the one-shot Johnson and Johnson will be available as well as the two-dose Pfizer vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for those that are 12 and older, while the Johnson and Johnson vaccine can be administered to people that are 18 and older.
Because the Jackson County Fair is so prominent and attracts Hoosiers from all across the state, Bunce said the clinic is important because of the outreach that can be done.
He said more people getting vaccinated is key to keeping COVID-19 out of schools and maintaining low infection rates in the fall.
"The rates in schools depend on rates in the community, and right now it’s low," Bunce said.
A priority for the infectious disease specialist is to reach out to local schools to encourage vaccination before schools start back up in the coming weeks.
He said sports events and other school activities are less likely to be disrupted when more students are vaccinated.
“I’m trying to get the schools to push vaccination a little bit so it causes less headaches for them in the fall, because a vaccinated kid is a kid who doesn’t have to quarantine if they get exposed," he said.
The efficacy of vaccination throughout history was noted by Bunce, who said the response to COVID-19 can be approached in the same way as many other diseases in the past.
“Vaccination has been a marvelous tool throughout the years and has saved countless lives and prevented lots of morbidity," he said. "COVID’s no different. We can approach COVID like we’ve approached diseases over the last 100 years."
Currently, 39.6% of Jackson County residents, or 17,544, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In Indiana, 42.4% of the state’s total population is fully vaccinated.
Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are accepted while vaccine supplies last. To register, go to ourshot.in.gov or call 211.
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A free COVID-19 vaccination clinic, organized by the Indiana State Department of Health, is coming to the Jackson County Fair this year.
It will be set up at the EMS station and be open from noon to 9 p.m. July 29, 30 and 31.
The one-shot Johnson and Johnson will be available, as well as the two dose Pfizer vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for those that are 12 and older, while the Johnson and Johnson vaccine can be administered to people that are 18 and older.
Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are accepted while vaccine supplies last. To register, go to ourshot.in.gov or call 211.
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