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Vaccine Information and Planning

COVID-19 vaccination expands in Indiana

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NOTICE: The U.S. FDA has expanded its Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer vaccine to include adolescents ages 12 to 15. The next step is for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make a recommendation, which is expected late Wednesday. If the recommendation is favorable, eligibility for the Pfizer vaccine in Indiana will be open to anyone 12 and older starting at 8 a.m. Thursday.

Anyone age 16 and older may now schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. Click here to register or call 211 (866-211-9966) if you do not have access to a computer or need assistance. Walk-in appointments are also accepted at most vaccination sites.

When you enter a ZIP code to search for a vaccination site, you will find several vaccination locations near you. The site’s information will include which vaccine is likely available at the site (excludes sites in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program other than Walmart). You can click “Find Next Available Appointment” to get to the soonest date and time. Zoom out on the map to expand your search. If you don’t see the vaccination site you’re looking for, it’s possible that all appointments are full.

Please note that anyone younger than 18 must receive the Pfizer vaccine. It is the only vaccine to receive Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for that age group. Proof of age will be required at the time of vaccination.

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

Get your vaccination certificate

If you’ve been vaccinated, connect with the Indiana Vaccination Portal to get your vaccination certificate using Access Indiana.
Click here then on the tile "Indiana Vaccination Portal"

Have a question about COVID-19 vaccine? Search our Frequently Asked Questions.

To filter the FAQ lists below, please type in a keyword or phrase in the search field. Once you start typing the lists below will show only relevant results.

Vaccine Safety

Vaccine Scheduling and Registration

Vaccine Administration

Schedule Second Dose

Other Vaccine Questions

About the vaccine

Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and additional vaccines are being developed by other manufacturers. The EUA process has allowed for clinical trials and manufacturing to occur simultaneously, while still allowing for rigorous testing to determine how safe and effective it is.

  1. Safety is top priority.
    The first goal is to focus on the safety of the vaccine and determining how effective it is. Before any vaccine is released, it must first complete three phases of clinical trials to study its effect on thousands of diverse study participants. Once that study is done, the pharmaceutical company submits the results for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. FDA. This is a way to make important health breakthroughs available to the public quickly.

    The vaccine is then reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP is a federal advisory committee of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the U.S. public.

    The next step before the vaccine is available is for the Indiana Department of Health’s Vaccine Allocation Plan Development Advisory Group to make final recommendations on the ethical and equitable allocation of a limited COVID-19 vaccine.

    Women younger than age 50 should be aware of a slightly increased risk for a rare but serious blood clotting disorder. Most people who developed these blood clots and low levels of platelets were females ages 18 through 49 years and symptoms began one to two weeks following vaccination. The chance of this occurring is remote. You should seek medical attention right away if you have any of the following symptoms after receiving Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine:
    • Severe or persistent headaches or blurred vision
    • Shortness of breath
    • Chest pain
    • Leg swelling
    • Persistent abdominal pain
    • Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection

     
  2. Vaccine is available near you.
    Vaccines by Pfizer (click here for Spanish version), Moderna (click here for Spanish version) and Johnson & Johnson (click here for Spanish version) are now available. Some groups will be recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine first. We have set up a phased-in approach to determine who is eligible for vaccine first based on the most effective way to reduce the impact of COVID-19. The Pfizer vaccine is not initially available for children under age 16 or younger than age 18 for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Early clinical trials of the vaccine show no adverse effects for pregnant women, but if you’re pregnant, you should have a conversation with a healthcare provider to see if it’s right for you.

    Already received the vaccine? Make sure you’re on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s v-safe after vaccination health checker.
     
  3. The vaccine is free.
    Vaccine providers can bill a patient’s insurance for a fee to administer the vaccine, but will not charge the patient. Providers can seek reimbursement for uninsured patients from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund.

     
  4. Take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19
    The vaccine is in limited supply at first and won’t be widely available until next year. Until there is enough vaccine for everyone, it’s crucial for you to continue to take these steps that we can do now to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
    • Wear a mask to protect yourself and others
    • Stay at least 6 feet apart (about 2 arm lengths)
    • Practice good hand hygiene by washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer
    • Isolate yourself if you’re sick and stay home if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19
    • Clean frequently touched surfaces often

Vaccine Information:

Use your smartphone to tell CDC about any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. You’ll also get reminders if you need a second vaccine dose.

vsafe

Indiana’s Vaccine Advisory Groups

Indiana has worked with partners from across the state develop a vaccination plan. The goal was to get input from a variety of experts in a number of areas, including infectious disease, hospitals and health care, education, faith-based communities, pharmacies, organizations serving minorities and those with disabilities, local health departments and others.

Vaccine Allocation Plan Development Advisory Group: Provided final recommendations on the ethical and equitable allocation of a limited COVID-19 vaccine. This group remains available to assemble as adjustments to the plan are needed as we learn how much vaccine we will receive and review the research about how safe and effective the vaccine is.

Ethical Considerations Advisory Group: Reviewed existing documents and assisted in writing and reviewing ethical approaches to vaccine allocation. This group founded its recommendations with the goals to decrease overall deaths, reduce the spread of COVID-19, make sure limited resources are used responsibly, and support healthcare systems to ensure that they have the resources needed to administer vaccine, treat disease and protect vulnerable populations in a fair, equitable manner.

Vaccine Review Advisory Group: This group will investigate available information on each COVID-19 vaccine and will specifically review the safety profile and efficacy of each population of interest (those at clinical risk and demographic factors).

Equitable Distribution and Communication Advisory Group: Worked to ensure that all Hoosiers were considered and represented as a component of the vaccine allocation plan. Advised on key components of communication.

Data Advisory Group: Explored creative data resources and compiled Indiana-specific data for critical populations.

Vaccination Program Implementation Committee: External committee facilitated by the Indiana Department of Health’s (IDOH) State Health Commissioner with representation from state and local government organizations, private sectors, tribes, healthcare, education, and critical infrastructure.

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This site was last updated 5/6/2021 4:45 PM