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Local Health Officials Say Expanded Vaccine Eligibility Will Make Herd Immunity More Achievable

(Provided by Indiana University Health)

The Indiana Department of Health has expanded vaccine eligibility to 12 to 15-year-olds, a move local health officials say will help them reach the goal of vaccinating at least 70 percent of the population.

“Having another 15,000 [or] 16,000 people who are eligible contributes to the baseline of herd immunity,” St. Joseph County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Mark Fox said Wednesday.

Elkhart County Health Officer Dr. Bethany Wait said 73 percent of Elkhart County residents are 18 and above. When you factor in those who are unable or unwilling to get the vaccine, she says younger age groups will be necessary to reach herd immunity.

"If we're ever going to attain that 70 percent, it's probably going to take children to do that," Waid said. "And, in particular, that age group is one of our highest-spreading age groups."

Fox said the expanded eligibility will also help schools "look much closer to normal" in the fall. 

"You think about what schoolkids have lost over the last 15 months," he said. "Getting more of those kids vaccinated makes returning to school full-time an even safer proposition as we look to next academic year."

Wait said even though the vaccine is safe, it’s understandable for parents to be nervous about getting their kids the shot. She encouraged anyone with concerns to talk to their child’s pediatrician. 

 

“Who do you trust the most with your child's health? Your primary care physician, outside of yourself, obviously," Wait said. "Having that open and honest conversation with somebody that you trust and that your kids trust is what’s going to be most important.”

 

Only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for people under 18. Pfizer vaccination sites in the area include:

  • Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart
  • Goshen Hospital in Goshen
  • St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka
  • The St. Joseph County Health Department's clinic at St. Hedwig in South Bend

You can also check with your local chain pharamcies and federally qualified health centers to see what vaccines they carry. 
 

Contact Gemma atgdicarlo@wvpe.orgor follow her on Twitter at@gemma_dicarlo.

 

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Gemma DiCarlo came to Indiana by way of Athens, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2020 with a degree in Journalism and certificates in New Media and Sustainability. She has radio experience from her time as associate producer of Athens News Matters, the flagship public affairs program at WUGA-FM.