INDIANAPOLIS — Here are Wednesday'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.
CVS, Walgreens, Walmart open COVID vaccine appointments for kids
COVID-19 vaccines are now available to millions of children ages 5-11.
CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid are among the major pharmacy and drugstore chains that plan to start vaccinations for elementary-aged kids ages in the coming days. Pediatricians’ offices and hospitals also began inoculating children on Wednesday, with schools and other locations planning to follow suit in the days ahead.
Here's how to book an appointment:
- CVS: Parents should schedule an appointment online at CVS.com or through the CVS pharmacy app.
- Walgreens: Appointments are now available and can be made through the appointment scheduler at Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine, through the Walgreens app or by calling 1-800-Walgreens.
- Walmart/Sam's Club: To find a COVID-19 vaccine at a Walmart or Sam's Club, visit Walmart.com/covidvaccine or samsclub.com/pharmacy/immunizations.
- Rite Aid: The first appointments can be booked through Rite Aid's online scheduling tool beginning Thursday, Nov. 4.
ISDH update
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 2,024 new coronavirus cases Wednesday and 53 more deaths that happened between Aug. 25 and Nov. 2. The death toll in Indiana now stands at 16,283.
Another 3,091 Hoosiers were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Wednesday afternoon. The total number of Hoosiers now considered fully vaccinated is 3,377,447.
An additional 18,309 Hoosiers have been given booster doses since Tuesday's count. A total of 432,909 booster doses have now been administered to Indiana residents.
Hoosiers ages 5-11 now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
The Indiana Department of Health said Hoosiers ages 5 to 11 are eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids — just a third of the amount given to teens and adults — will be available on a walk-in basis Wednesday, Nov. 3 at the vaccine clinic outside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in the IndyCar parking lot at 4551 W. 16th St. across from Gate 2. The vaccine clinic is open Tuesday - Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.
Hamilton County vaccinations for kids 5-11
Children 5 to 11 began getting vaccinated in Fishers Wednesday morning.
The Hamilton County Health Department announced it would begin vaccinating children 5 to 11 Wednesday afternoon. Parents can bring their children to the vaccination clinic at the 4H Fairgrounds in Noblesville beginning at 3 p.m.
“We are doing what we can to make this vaccination as pain-free for kids and their parents as possible,” says Jason LeMaster, administrator for the Hamilton County Health Department. “We have cordoned off individual areas for children and brought in nurses with pediatric experience. The doses will also be delivered through smaller needles and suckers will be handed out to kids after their vaccine.”
Appointments can also be made at www.ourshot.in.gov.
MCPHD to begin offering COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5-11 as soon as Thursday
The Marion County Public Health Department said it will offer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5-11 as soon as Thursday, Nov. 4.
The announcement comes one day after the final approval from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
The vaccine for kids will be offered at the existing District Health Office vaccine clinics and at the ACTION Health Center. Walk-ins are welcome, and those older than 11 can still get their COVID-19 vaccine at the clinics. Click here if you'd like to pre-register.
Parents can schedule appointments for their child to get vaccinated beginning Thursday, Nov. 4 at 8 a.m. at ourshot.in.gov or by calling 211 or (866) 211-9966.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 46.16 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 3:30 a.m Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 748,500 deaths recorded in the U.S.
Worldwide, there have been more than 247.57 million confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 5.01 million deaths and more than 7.10 billion vaccine doses 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.
CDC gives final clearance to Pfizer shot for kids
U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign.
The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 — doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines.
The announcement by CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky came only hours after an advisory panel unanimously decided Pfizer’s shots should be opened to the 28 million youngsters in that age group.
Millions of shots made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech have already been shipped to states, doctors’ offices and pharmacies, to be ready for CDC's decision.
U.S. buys 614K doses of Lilly COVID-19 treatment
The U.S. government is buying more of Eli Lilly's COVID-19 treatment.
The government is paying $1.29 billion for an additional 614,000 doses of its antibody therapy, bamlanivimab and etesevimab. The combination therapy was approved for emergency use in February to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms in people who are 12 years old and older.
It is administered through an IV in the early stages of a patient's diagnosis.