INDIANAPOLIS — Here are Monday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic, including the latest news on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Indiana. Registrations for the vaccine are now open for select groups through the Indiana State Department of Health. This story will be updated over the course of the day with more news on the COVID-19 pandemic.
FDA expands Pfizer COVID vaccine authorization to ages 12-15
The Food and Drug Administration announced Monday it is expanding emergency use authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 12-15. Pfizer had previously received expanded emergency use authorization for ages 16 and up.
The FDA's latest approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be used on children between the ages of 12 and 15 came after the FDA determined Pfizer's vaccine met all of the "statutory criteria" and that "the known and potential benefits of this vaccine in individuals 12 years of age and older outweigh the known and potential risks, supporting the vaccine’s use in this population."
To date, approximately 1.5 million people between the ages of 11 and 17 have tested positive for coronavirus.
“Today’s action allows for a younger population to be protected from COVID-19, bringing us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy and to ending the pandemic," said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. "Parents and guardians can rest assured that the agency undertook a rigorous and thorough review of all available data, as we have with all of our COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorizations.”
The Pfizer vaccine will be administered to this new age group in the same way it has been administered to people ages 16 and older. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 will get the Pfizer vaccine in a series of two doses, three weeks apart, which is the same dosage and dosing regimen for 16 years of age and older.
40 percent of eligible Hoosiers now vaccinated
State health officials say nearly 40 percent of Indiana residents ages 16 and older have now been fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
The Indiana Department of Health said Monday about 2.14 million Hoosiers — or 39.3 percent of Indiana’s roughly 5.3 million residents ages 16 and older — have been fully vaccinated.
Health officials said last week that Indiana’s rate of COVID-19 vaccination shots has remained sluggish in recent weeks, spurring concerns about the increased risk from more contagious coronavirus variants at a time when so many people are not yet immunized against the coronavirus.
Girl Scout cookies being given away at vaccination sites across the state
The Indiana Department of Health is partnering with Girl Scouts of Central Indiana to give away Girl Scout cookies at vaccination clinics around the state, including mass vaccination sites at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the former Roosevelt High School clinic in Gary.
Girl Scouts of Central Indiana is donating approximately 70,000 packages of cookies to the vaccination effort due to a pandemic-related shortfall in sales this year.
“Unfortunately, like many businesses, our sales fell short of our goals, and we found ourselves with extra packages of cookies," said Danielle Shockey, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana. "As we evaluated our options, we decided that providing these packages of cookies to thank Hoosiers who are getting vaccinated was a way to support the incredible work being done to put this pandemic behind us.”
Punch Bowl Social reopening downtown location May 19
Punch Bowl Social is reopening its downtown Indianapolis location next week.
The entertainment venue is set to reopen Wednesday, May 19 after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 20,000-square foot facility includes food, drinks and entertainment options, such as bowling, karaoke, ping pong, arcade games and more.
Upon reopening, Punch Bowl Social will be offering brunch of Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Punch Bowl Social is located at 120 S. Meridian St.
State reports 8,756 new full vaccinations, 1 more death
The Indiana State Department of Health reported one additional death from COVID-19 Monday. That death occurred Sunday. Indiana has now lost 12,991 people to the virus.
ISDH also reported that 8,756 more individuals have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as of Monday morning. A total of 2,110,729 have now had either the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccination or both doses of either of the two-shot Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. As of today, a total of 4,542,667 doses have been administered in Indiana.
A total of 3,416,811 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana. A total of 9,999,600 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to ISDH during the pandemic.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The Indiana State Department of Health issued updated coronavirus for the state following corrections made to the state's dashboard. This story originally reported 13,004 Hoosiers lost to COVID-19, as well as 3,424,578 unique tests and 10,035,551 overall tests for coronavirus in Indiana. The story also reported 2,144,438 individuals who had received a full regimen of COVID-19 vaccine and 4,587,006 doses administered. Both statistics were later updated by the health department.)
Eli Lilly announces return to work plans at downtown headquarters
Eli Lilly and Company announced its plans to bring employees back to the office.
Company Chairman and CEO David E. Ricks said 25 percent of employees will be invited back to the downtown headquarters Tuesday, June 1 but must be vaccinated to return to in-person work. Masks will still be required indoors and social distancing will take place.
Ricks said this will give Lilly the opportunity to warm up the facility for a full return of employees, which is scheduled for Monday, July 12.
"We learned a lot about how to do remote work during this pandemic, and we want to embrace the opportunity to have more flexibility for our employees while maintaining a vibrant workplace," Ricks said.
According to Ricks, about 4,000 Lilly employees still went to work at the downtown headquarters during the COVID-19 pandemic, but around 7,000 employees have been working mostly from home over the past year.
Franklin College announces in-person classes for upcoming year
Franklin College announced Monday students will continue in-person learning for the 2021-2022. The school offered in-person classes and regular housing throughout the entire 2020-2021 year and saw an increase in enrollment.
Vaccinations resume Monday at IMS
The Indiana State Department of Health and Indianapolis Motor Speedway will make it possible for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 throughout the month of May. People who then get vaccinated at the track will get a free T-shirt to commemorate the occasion.
Vaccinations will be available in the IndyCar parking lot at 4551 W. 16th St., across from Gate 2, on the following schedule:
- May 10, 17, and 24: Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- May 11-16: Second dose Moderna vaccines for anyone who received their first dose at IMS last month. The Pfizer vaccine will also be available these days for anyone seeking a first dose.
- May 21: Second dose of Pfizer vaccine for individuals who attended family day on April 30.
Kids triathlon series returns for 2021 season
After missing the 2020 season, Kids TRI for Kids will return for 2021 beginning in July. Kids TRI for Kids is a series of triathlons for children ages 7 to 14.
Scheduled events for 2021:
- July 4 – Zionsville High School
- Aug 1 – Tri Indy at White River State Park
- Aug 15 – Riviera Club on N. Illinois St.
- Aug 29 – Freedom Springs Aquatics Park in Greenwood
Kids are encouraged to complete one, or all, of the summer events.
Time tables and distances vary by age group, location and facilities, but will follow USA Triathlon guidelines and regulations. All races are $30 with a family special option.
Visit the website at www.kidstriforkids.com.
States scale back vaccine orders as interest in shots wanes
States across the country are dramatically scaling back their COVID-19 vaccine orders as interest in the shots wanes, putting the goal of herd immunity further out of reach.
Officials in Wisconsin have asked for just 8 percent of their federal allotment of doses for next week. Iowa has rejected 70 percent of its allotment next week. Kansas asked for less than 9 percent of its allotment this past week. Illinois plans to ask for only 9 percent of its allotment next week.
Health officials say most people who want to get vaccinated have been able to find shots, resulting in softening demand. But according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 32 percent of the nation's population has been fully vaccinated.
FDA expected to authorize COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12-15
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to authorize emergency use of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 15, potentially this week.
The FDA granted emergency use authorization to people ages 16 and older late last year. A recent preliminary Pfizer study of 2,260 volunteers ages 12 to 15, found no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated teens.
A federal vaccine advisory committee is scheduled to meet this week to discuss whether to recommend Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds.
As cases grow, India's vaccination campaign falters
Since India opened COVID-19 vaccinations to all adults this month, the pace of administering shots has dropped.
States say they only have limited stock to give out. Meanwhile, coronavirus cases are still rising at a record pace amid a disastrous surge sweeping the country. On Sunday, India reported 403,738 cases, including 4,092 deaths.
Alongside a slowdown in vaccinations, states have gone to court over oxygen shortages. Hospitals are struggling to treat lines of COVID-19 patients.
One reason for the drop in shots is that there are just not enough available. An expert says that vaccine supply has remained nearly the same but the target population eligible has increased by threefold.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 32.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 1 a.m. ET Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 581,700 deaths in the U.S.
Worldwide there have been more than 158.3 million confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 3.29 million deaths and 94.3 million recoveries.
The actual number of people infected by the virus around the world is believed to be much higher — perhaps 10 times higher in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — given testing limitations and the many mild cases that have gone unreported or unrecognized.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness like pneumonia, or death.