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Indiana coronavirus updates for Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021

The latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic from Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021.

INDIANAPOLIS — Here are Tuesday'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 Hoosiers 12 and older 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.

RELATED: Here's everything we know about the COVID-19 vaccine

RELATED: Eligible Hoosiers can sign up for Pfizer’s booster shot, but not everyone needs to

Australia won't welcome foreign tourists until at least 2022

Foreign tourists won’t be welcomed back to Australia until at least next year, the prime minister said Tuesday as he outlined plans for lifting some of the toughest and longest COVID-19 travel restrictions imposed by any democracy.

The country will instead prioritize the return of skilled migrants and students after it hits Prime Minister Scott Morrison's benchmark for reopening its external borders: the full vaccination of 80% of the population aged 16 and older. It is expected to reach that point Tuesday.

The news comes just days after Morrison announced plans to allow vaccinated citizens and permanent residents to fly overseas from November for the first time since March 2020.

Hamilton County reopening mass vaccination clinic

The Hamilton County Health Department is reopening its mass vaccination site at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville Wednesday, Oct. 6.

The clinic will be open 1-7 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The clinic will have first, second, and booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine available. Booster shots are only available for people 65 and older, or adults who are 18 and older with underlying health conditions or who work in high-risk settings. High-risk settings and occupations include the following:

  • Health care settings
  • Schools
  • Correctional facilities
  • Homeless shelters
  • Firefighters
  • Police
  • Nursing homes and group homes
  • Food workers
  • Manufacturing workers
  • USPS workers
  • Public transit workers
  • Grocery store workers

Click here to see other individuals who may qualify for booster shots.

Only those who received their second Pfizer shot at least six months ago are eligible to receive the booster shot.

Walk-ups are accepted at the clinic, but appointments are preferred. To register, go to ourshot.in.gov.

Washington woman dies from blood clot after getting J&J COVID-19 vaccine

A King County resident has died from a blood clotting syndrome linked to the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine.

Public Health – Seattle & King County announced the death Tuesday morning, calling the syndrome "rare."

The victim was a woman in her late 30s, according to the health department. She received her single dose of the vaccine on Aug. 26, 2021. She died less than two weeks later.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been three other confirmed deaths nationally.

As of July 8, only 38 of the 12.5 million people who received the J&J vaccine reported having these complications, most of whom recovered.

The CDC found that women ages 18-49 are at higher risk for adverse effects from the J&J vaccine than women ages 50 and up.

Still, the CDC said the benefit far outweighs the risk, explaining that for every 1 million doses of the J&J vaccine administered to women ages 18-49, 297 hospitalizations, 56 ICU admissions and six deaths due to COVID-19 could be prevented. Meanwhile, only seven expected cases of blood clots would be prevented.

Report: Vaccinations linked to reduction of nearly 1,300 deaths among Indiana seniors

A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows a link between COVID-19 vaccinations and the reduction of roughly 9,500 new infections, 3,600 hospitalizations and 1,300 deaths among seniors in Indiana during the first five months of 2021. 

The study was conducted by researchers with the HHS's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

It found that nationally, vaccinations were linked to the prevention of roughly 265,000 COVID-19 infections, 107,000 hospitalizations and 39,000 deaths among Medicare beneficiaries between January and May 2021.

ISDH update

The state is reporting 69 more deaths from COVID-19 along with 2,130 new cases. The death toll in Indiana from COVID-19 stands at 15,342.

The state also reported an additional 2,353 Hoosiers are now fully vaccinated. That brings the total number of Hoosiers fully vaccinated to 3,289,987.

Johnson & Johnson seeks US clearance for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses

Johnson & Johnson asked the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday to allow extra shots of its COVID-19 vaccine as the U.S. government moves toward expanding its booster campaign to millions of more vaccinated Americans.

J&J said it filed a request with the FDA to authorize boosters for people who previously received the company's one-shot vaccine. While the company said it submitted data on several different booster intervals, ranging from two to six months, it did not formally recommend one to regulators.

Last month, the FDA authorized booster shots of Pfizer's vaccine for older Americans and other groups with heightened vulnerability to COVID-19. It's part of a sweeping effort by the Biden administration to shore up protection amid the delta variant and potential waning vaccine immunity.

The FDA is convening its outside panel of advisers next week to review booster data from both J&J and Moderna. It's the first step in a review process that also includes sign-off from the leadership of both the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If both agencies give the go-ahead, Americans could begin getting J&J and Moderna boosters later this month.

J&J previously released data suggesting its vaccine remains highly effective against COVID-19 at least five months after vaccination, demonstrating 81% effectiveness against hospitalizations in the U.S.

Company research shows a booster dose at either two or six months revved up immunity even further. FDA's advisers will review that data next Friday and vote on whether to recommend boosters.

Children's Museum hosting COVID-19 and school vaccination clinic Tuesday

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is partnering with the Marion County Public Health Department and Indianapolis Public Schools to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations and required and recommended school vaccinations on Tuesday, Oct. 5.

The clinic is taking place from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

Anyone 12 years old and older, who is currently unvaccinated, can get the Pfizer vaccine at Tuesday's clinic.

The 2021–22 school recommended and required immunizations for K-12 students include Hepatitis B, DTaP, polio and others.

Face masks are required for all visitors ages 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status.

KIPP Indy hosting vaccine clinic Tuesday

KIPP Indy is joining community partners to host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic Tuesday, Oct. 5 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. To reserve a spot, register online with the enrollment code IN65942. Walk-ins will also be accepted.

The clinic will have vaccinations for COVID-19, DTaP/Tdap, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, HiB and HPV.

The clinic will be at KIPP Indy Legacy High School, located at 2255 Ralston Ave.

Latest US, world numbers

There have been more than 43.85 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 703,200 deaths recorded in the U.S.

Worldwide, there have been more than 235.41 million confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 4.8 million deaths. More than 6.32 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.

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.

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