The following press release was sent to The Bloomingtonian Wednesday by the Monroe County Health Department:
“BLOOMINGTON – The Hoosier Homebound Program officially kicked off in Monroe County on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 and Thursday, March 18, 2021 as two teams each from the City of Bloomington Fire Department and Monroe Fire Protection District visit 40 homebound residents and vaccinate them against the Covid-19 virus.
The Homebound Program was developed to ensure those who have difficulty leaving their home can get a Covid vaccine where they live. It matches up available doses of vaccine from health departments with those who have been signed up on the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Homebound Hoosier Portal by local Area Agencies on Aging. Health departments then work with fire departments or EMS agencies to do the home vaccinations.
“One of the things our community always excels at is partnerships and this is a great example. We are so excited to be able to offer this service to homebound residents,” says Amy Meek, MSN, RN, Program Manager at the Monroe County Public Health Clinic.
City of Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton agrees. “This is another great example of county and city governments working together for the benefit of our residents, as we have throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We are so pleased to be able to help provide vaccination opportunities for those who might miss out without the Hoosier Homebound Program.”
MCHD recently received a small shipment of Johnson and Johnson vaccine and will be using it for the Hoosier Homebound Program as well as with other harder to reach populations. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine only requires one dose in order to be fully vaccinated, unlike other vaccines currently in use in the United States.
“We are very grateful to both the Bloomington Fire Department and the Monroe Fire Protection District who have stepped up and offered to help us vaccinate those who are unable to visit a clinic,” said Penny Caudill, administrator at the Monroe County Health Department (MCHD). “We’ve learned that several of those who are being vaccinated this week are over the age of 95.”
The Hoosier Homebound Program is a collaboration between the Indiana FSSA, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Health, local health departments and local EMS/fire departments.
For more information about Covid-19 and vaccinations, visit www.co.monroe.in.us/covid-19 or call the Covid Hotline at 812-349-2997.
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Press release link:
