Lake County Health Officer Dr. Chandana Vavilala, left, tells members of the Lake County Council Tuesday, including Councilwoman Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, center, and Councilman Alfredo Menchaca, D-Gary, right, that the county health department is opening a COVID-19 immunization site for eligible individuals at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point.
CROWN POINT — The Lake County Health Department will begin distributing a limited number of COVID-19 immunizations at the Lake County Fairgrounds Wednesday to eligible individuals who make an appointment online at ourshot.in.gov or by calling 211.
The fairgrounds site is the eighth COVID-19 vaccine distribution location in Lake County, including hospitals in Crown Point (two), Gary, Merrillville and Munster, and the city health departments in East Chicago and Gary.
Currently, only health care workers, first responders, long-term care facility residents and staff, and individuals age 80 and up are eligible to receive the vaccine, due to the limited supply of doses the state receives on a weekly basis from the federal government.
For example, Dr. Chandana Vavilala, the Lake County health officer, said the fairgrounds site only will be able to inject 600 to 800 individuals with the COVID-19 vaccine each week.
She said when the supply increases, she hopes to open additional immunization sites at Wicker Memorial Park in Highland and Purdue University Northwest in Hammond.
"If we had a massive amount of vaccination available, I'm sure we would be more than happy to invite everyone. But that's not the case at this point in time," Vavilala said.
Members of the Lake County Council told Vavilala Tuesday they're prepared to use the county's share of federal CARES Act funds to help her stand up additional vaccine sites when appropriate.
Gallery: COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Nick Gianikos, a housing board member at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville, receives his Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from Walgreens pharmacist Mindy Keeton on Monday.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Needles are unpacked for COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Walgreens pharmacist Stephanie Rosado, left, gives Tina Stath her Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Peter Murdakes, left, a housing board member at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville, has his temperature taken by Walgreens manager Michelle Munoz on Monday.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Tina Stath, right, records a video on her phone as her husband, Leon, receives his Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday from Walgreens pharmacist Stephanie Rosado.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Nick Gianikos, board member at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville, cracks a joke with Walgreens pharmacist Mindy Keeton after receiving his vaccine shot.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
A sticker is let after a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Walgreens pharmacists Stephanie Rosado, foreground, and Mindy Keeton haul in vaccine supplies as AHEPA residents wait to be immunized on Monday in Merrillville.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Walgreens pharmacist Stephanie Rosado, left, administers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot to Peter Murdakes, a housing board member at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville, on Monday.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Walgreens pharmacist Mindy Keeton, left, pokes the arm of Martha Metts to give the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Monday at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Walgreens pharmacists Mindy Keeton, foreground, and Stephanie Rosado prep their stations to administer Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at the AHEPA apartments Monday in Merrillville.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Walgreens pharmacist Stephanie Rosado administers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
The community board at the AHEPA contains prompts and answers from residents, including one longing for more normal in-person socialization in the future.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Walgreens pharmacist Mindy Keeton delivers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Tina Stath, housing board member at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville, has her temperature taken by Walgreens manager Michelle Munoz on Monday.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Walgreens pharmacist Mindy Keeton administers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville.
COVID-19 vaccine administered at AHEPA apartments
Walgreens pharmacist Mindy Keeton delivers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday at the AHEPA apartments in Merrillville.
Dan Carden
Chief Political Reporter
Dan has reported on Indiana state government for The Times since 2009. He also covers casinos, campaigns and corruption.
