Whenever the coronavirus vaccine arrives in Indiana, the Indiana Department of Health says there will be a thorough vetting process to ensure it is both safe and effective.
Dr. Lindsay Weaver, Chief Medical Officer for the Indiana Department of Health, said Wednesday the federal government is telling them to prepare for a vaccine as early as mid-November. That date could always change.
“We have assembled a team to review all research related to the vaccine so that we can assure it is safe for Hoosiers and administer to the population at which it was studied,” said Dr. Weaver.
Weaver says the vaccine will not be administered until Indiana has immunization practice recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee and until the state’s own team completes an evaluation.
“This is important because this is a new vaccine that will be approved under an emergency use authorization,” said Weaver.
At first, the state will have five sites that represent all geographic regions of the state. Weaver calls this “pilot phase.” They have surveyed every hospital system in the state for their ability to immunize not only their staff but also additional health care providers in their area.
“These facilities need to have ultra-low storage for the vaccine and also the ability to vaccinate not only their frontline staff, but also the staff of some surrounding hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare workers, depending on the amount of vaccine we receive,” said Weaver.
A group called Indiana Health Information Exchange, or IHIE, is now talking to the Indiana Health Department about how vaccination data will be tracked.
