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Indiana Uses Emergency Alert System For Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Sites

Screenshot of public alert

Indiana is using its emergency alert system to urge people to visit its mass COVID-19 vaccination sites.

Hoosiers in central Indiana got the alert on their phones Tuesday that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway vaccine clinic is open to walk-ins through Thursday. And it’s offering both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

The Indiana Department of Health said it used a similar alert last week for its mass vaccination site in Gary and generated an increase in walk-ins.

The state agency said it made the decision to utilize the public alert system in consultation with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.