Free COVID-19 vaccines are now available for those 45 and older.

Indiana Department of Health announced the expansion of eligibility on March 16. That addition makes the vaccine available to an additional 415,640 Hoosiers.

Vaccine appointments for this newly eligible population will be available over the next several weeks to align with expected vaccine deliveries to the state.

Recently, vaccine supplies have been plentiful in Wayne County, with same-day appointments often available.

To schedule a vaccine, visit https://ourshot.in.gov and select a location from one of more than 400 clinics around the state.

Hoosiers who do not have a computer or cell phone or those who need assistance scheduling an appointment can call 211 or contact one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging or AARP.

Nearly 70 libraries around the state are helping Hoosiers schedule their appointments, including Morrisson-Reeves Library at (765) 966-8291.

Wayne County Health Department also provides scheduling assistance by calling (765) 973-9245.

Vaccination clinics that are part of the federal vaccine program, including those at Meijer and Kroger, appear on the clinic map at https://ourshot.in.gov but are scheduled through those retailers’ platforms, not through the state centralized system.

Wayne County Health Department will continue to have vaccination appointments AND accept walk-ins all this week.

The health department’s COVID-19 vaccination center is located at the former Elder-Beerman store at 601 E. Main St. in Richmond. Enter through the south doors for vaccinations.  Walk-in hours are from noon – 6 p.m.

Wayne County Health Department continues to operate a COVID-19 testing site.  The testing site is also located in a separate area of the former Elder-Beerman store. Enter through the west doors for testing.

Appointments are necessary for COVID testing. Both the rapid and the PCR tests are available. Certain criteria must be met to qualify for the rapid test.  Appointments for tests can be made by visiting www.scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov.

The Optum/LHI Test Site at 138 W. Main St. in Cambridge City is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. Walk-ins are welcome, or appointments can be made. Registration is available at lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling (888) 634-1116.

County health officials expressed concern earlier this year that the Cambridge City site could be closed if a trend of declining testing visits continued.

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Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.