The Indiana Department of Health is asking state vaccine providers to accept walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccines. That’s as demand has dropped off.
Officials said appointments are still preferred and some vaccine providers are booked through May.
Dr. Lindsey Weaver, Indiana Department of Health chief medical officer, said the expansion to walk-ins is partially because demand for vaccines has dropped off and partially to help lower the barrier for Hoosiers to get vaccinated.
"But almost everyone that we’ve asked said absolutely and are taking walk-ins. And that really means a lot to people who have had difficulty trying to plan ahead and schedule," Weaver said.
READ MORE: How Will Indiana Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines? Here's What You Need To Know
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Though some clinics in the state are booked through May, State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said the goal of walk-ins is to get reticent Hoosiers vaccinated.
"When that individual makes the decision, comes to that point in their life where they’re ready to do it, that they don’t go to a site and get turned down and try to get scheduled the next day or later that same day – because we don’t know that we’ll get that next opportunity," Box said.
Indiana lags behind nationally for vaccines, with just under 27 percent of the state's total population – or 1.8 million Hoosiers – fully vaccinated.
Weaver said opening to walk-in appointments has increased traffic at the state’s mass vaccination clinics in Indianapolis and Gary.
Contact Lauren at lchapman@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @laurenechapman_.
