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MUNCIE, Ind. Meridian Health Services is looking to bring the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to the Suzanne Gresham Center. Once the supply arrives, it will become the second local clinic to offer the Pfizer vaccine.
Lisa Suttle, Meridian s regional vice president of clinical services, told The Star Press that the healthcare system has ordered the specialized refrigerator to hold the two-dose Pfizer vaccine, which was expected to arrive May 4. We will then begin working on getting the Pfizer vaccine, Suttle said. We wanted to make sure we had the freezer and have all the guidelines in place to keep the Pfizer vaccine safe.
Meridian Health Services had set up the clinic in the church s basement, bringing along about 100 single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines on March 30. Due to the longevity of any type of COVID-19 vaccine, the goal was distribute them all that day.
Within a few hours, the healthcare system was able to do just that.
Both Senior Pastor Andrew Draper and Associate Pastor Maria Wilson wanted to bring the vaccine closer to area residents and increase accessibility for all. Wilson, chair of the Mobilizing Muncie health sub-committee, has been working alongside various local health providers, including Meridian, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and Open Door Health Services.
MUNCIE, Ind. As Delaware County approaches 9,000 COVID-19 cases, two more local health care providers have been added to the state s vaccination site list.
Meridian Health Services and Open Door Health Services, both categorized as Federal Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), began their vaccination clinics this week.
Each location received 800 Moderna vaccines for the week; future shipments will depend on demand in the area and availability within the state.
Currently, frontline workers and those in the community who are 70 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine. As at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and the Delaware County Health Department, an appointment is required to receive a vaccine. Appointments can be made at ourshot.in.gov or by calling 211.
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As COVID-19 cases continue to spread throughout Delaware County, breaking 8,500 cases and 129 as of Wednesday, local healthcare officials are beginning to see a positive response to vaccines in their first week of distribution, with thousands getting their shots.
On the first day of vaccine clinic, Jan. 8, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital distributed 463 doses, said Ball Memorial Public Relations Manager Courtney Schmoll.
While the hospital doesn t have a detailed report of frontline workers versus community members receiving the vaccine, 251 were second doses and 212 were first doses, said Schmoll.