INDIANAPOLIS — Here are Thursday'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.
CDC advisers backing COVID boosters for older, vulnerable Americans
The U.S. vaccination drive against COVID-19 stood on the verge of a major new phase as government advisers Thursday recommended booster doses of Pfizer's vaccine for millions of older or otherwise vulnerable Americans — despite doubts the extra shots will do much to slow the pandemic.
Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said boosters should be offered to people 65 and older, nursing home residents and those ages 50 to 64 who have risky underlying health problems. The extra dose would be given once they are at least six months past their last Pfizer shot.
But deciding who else might get one was far tougher. While there is little evidence that younger people are at risk of waning immunity, the panel offered the option of a booster for those 18 to 49 who have chronic health problems and want one.
Still, getting the unvaccinated their first shots remains the top priority, and the panel wrestled with whether the booster debate was distracting from that goal.
Meijer preparing to administer booster shots
Meijer is preparing for a high volume of vaccinations for booster shots. The preparations are ahead of the possible CDC approval of the Pfizer booster shot for those 65 and older or at higher risk.
Eligible patients who received their original vaccinations from Meijer – whether in-store or at an off-site Meijer clinic – will be sent a text to schedule their booster appointment. All other patients can text COVID to 75049 to schedule an appointment when eligible or walk into any Meijer pharmacy.
Meijer will also have flu shots available to administer at the same time if wanted.
State reports nearly 5K more fully vaccinated residents, 28 additional deaths
The Indiana State Department of Health reported that 4,998 more Indiana residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Thursday morning. The total number of Hoosiers now considered fully vaccinated is 3,232,246.
ISDH also reported Monday that 3,659 more Hoosiers have tested positive for COVID-19.
The state also updated the number of deaths from COVID-19 to of 14,864 residents since the pandemic began. That is an increase of 28 deaths from the virus since Wednesday’s numbers were shared. The newly-reported deaths occurred between Sept. 10 and Wednesday.
FDA backs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for seniors, high-risk
The U.S. moved a step closer Wednesday to offering booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to senior citizens and others at high risk from the virus as the Food and Drug Administration signed off on the targeted use of the extra shots.
The FDA authorized booster doses for Americans who are 65 and older, younger people with underlying health conditions and those in jobs that put them at high-risk for COVID-19. The ruling represents a drastically scaled back version of the Biden administration’s sweeping plan to give third doses to nearly all American adults to shore up their protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.
However, more regulatory hurdles lie ahead before the dispensing of boosters can begin.
Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opened a two-day meeting Wednesday to make their own, more specific recommendations about who should get the extra shots and when. And in their first day of discussions, some experts were so perplexed by the questions surrounding the rationale for boosters that they suggested putting off a decision for a month in hopes of more evidence.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 42.54 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 3:30 a.m. Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 681,100 deaths recorded in the U.S.
Worldwide, there have been more than 230 million confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 4.71 million deaths. More than 5.99 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.
United Airlines say 97% of US employees have been vaccinated
United Airlines says more than 97% of its U.S.-based employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 now that there is less than a week before a company deadline to get the shots or get fired.
The airline said Wednesday that the new figure does not include a “small number” of employees who are seeking a medical or religious exemption from vaccination.
Six United employees sued United this week, claiming that the airline is discriminating against employees who get exemptions from the vaccine mandate by placing them on unpaid leave.
United said it will start termination proceedings as soon as next Tuesday against employees who are unvaccinated and have not received an exemption.
The airline is among a small group of companies that announced they would require vaccinations even before Sept. 9 when President Joe Biden issued an executive order directing employers with more than 100 workers to require vaccinations or weekly testing for the virus.
Last month, United set a deadline of Sept. 27 — next Monday — for its 67,000 U.S.-based employees to get vaccinated or face termination. However, employees who apply unsuccessfully for an exemption could get more time. They will have five weeks after their denial to get vaccinated.
Free testing and vaccine clinic underway at IMS
Free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations are available today in the parking lot across from Gate 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The clinic will run from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday through Oct. 30.
The Indiana Department of Health is deploying mobile clinics to the following counties this week to provide testing and vaccinations: Allen, Clark, Clay, Delaware, Fayette, Fulton, Gibson, Hamilton, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lake, LaPorte, Marion, Marshall, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Putnam, Ripley, Starke, Tippecanoe, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, and Whitley.
Hoosiers in the ZIP codes in which the clinics are located will receive a text message or email informing them of the locations and services offered.