Local hospitals prepare for COVID-19 vaccine

Local hospitals are preparing to receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines, which will go to healthcare workers.

Medical professionals also want to ease the minds of those who are concerned about the vaccine.

Studio this morning.

Marvin, what have you learned about the distribution process?

Good morning, marlee.

As news 18 previously reported, iu health has been designated to administer the vaccine for our part of the state.

Franciscan health will support and work with iu health in that effort.

Iu health will administer the vaccine for health care workers who live in tippecanoe, benton, fountain and warren counties.

President of franciscan health of western indiana, terry wilson wants to ease the fear many people may have about the covid-19 vaccine.

As we've previously reported local medical professionals believe people are nervous about the vaccine because of the misinformation that has surrounded the pandemic.

Wilson says as the vaccine slowly rolls out people should think about the positive impact it can have.

"i say to people it's another thing on a list of steps we are taking to try and fight this thing and to keep each other safe, keep our patients safe, keep our families and the people in the community safe and i'd ask them to consider it."

Health care workers living in white county must go to cass county for the vaccine, and those in clinton county can go to witham hospital in boone county.

As a reminder, medical professionals say widespread public availability of the vaccine is expected by late spring or early summer 2021.

The indiana state department of health has determined this first round of vaccines will go to health care workers first.

This friday at 8 a-m iu health will begin administering the covid-19 vaccine.

For more information you can find this story on our website at wlfi dot com.

In studio, marvin bills, news 18.

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