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Vaccine Information and Planning

COVID-19 Vaccination in Indiana

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Anyone age 12 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.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviewed the U.S. FDA’s amended Emergency Use Authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for booster doses. A “booster dose” is another dose of a vaccine that is given to someone who built enough protection after vaccination, but then that protection decreased over time (this is called waning immunity). 

The CDC has issued Pfizer booster eligibility guidance. Based on those recommendations, the Indiana Department of Health supports the administration of Pfizer vaccine booster dose to people 18 years and older who completed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as their primary series, and it has been AT LEAST six months since receiving the second dose, and they attest to meeting CDC guidelines as outlined below.  

The CDC recommended the following eligible individuals:

  • People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series
  • People age 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series
  • People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks
  • People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

Those eligible for the booster dose are not the same individuals already eligible for the third additional dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine due to their immunocompromised status. Sometimes people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised do not build enough (or any) protection when they first get a vaccination. When this happens, getting another dose of the vaccine can sometimes help them build more protection against the disease. 

The state Department of Health, following guidance from the CDC and ACIP recommends that people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are more at risk of serious, prolonged illness, receive an additional dose of the mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine.

This includes people who have:

  • Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
  • Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

People should talk to their healthcare providers about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them. A physician’s order is not necessary to receive a third dose, but the vaccination provider may ask for verbal confirmation of eligibility. Check the CDC website for more details.

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. The Pfizer vaccine is available for anyone age 12 and older, and the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available for anyone age 18 and older. 
    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. 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 best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to get the vaccine, which is free and widely available. Find a vaccination site near you on our vaccine site map. Once you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested if you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, unless you have symptoms. People are considered fully vaccinated:
    • 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
    • 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

    If you are not fully vaccinated, 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:

Host a Community COVID-19 Vaccination Event

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 9/24/2021 12:25 PM