The county’s other two nursing homes, Pulaski Health Care Center and Hickory Creek, both in Winamac, are awaiting their vaccines, hopefully within the next week.
The state’s LTCs were expected to receive vaccine this week through a separate program set up by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) in partnership with Walgreens and CVS, according to Brian Ledley, spokesperson for the Pulaski County Incident Management Team. Those pharmacies will go into the nursing homes and administer the vaccine to the staff and residents.
PMH received enough vaccine Monday to inoculate its staff. Dr. Daniel Anderson and nine other associates received the vaccine this week, allowing PMH to trial its administration process. PMH expects to vaccinate the remaining staff over the coming weeks.
Earlier in December Pulaski Memorial Hospital staff assisted at Logansport Memorial Hospital in administering some of the first vaccine doses to arrive in Indiana to area health care workers and providers, including some from PMH.
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Ledley explained the next shipments of vaccines for the public will be overseen by the Pulaski County Health Department.
“The health department hasnot received any vaccine yet – the last information from the state is that it should be arriving in mid-January,” he said. The local health department has met with several local agencies to plan the process of vaccinating the public.
At a meeting Tuesday evening (Dec. 29), it was announced the Knights of Columbus Hall in Winamac will serve as the vaccine distribution site in Pulaski County.
Ledley reported that other than supplying the vaccine and an online database, the federal and state governments are relying on local agencies to develop the process for local vaccine administration.
He noted local agency representatives present at Tuesday’s meeting worked to brainstorm the registration, administration, and observation process - all of which need to be developed from the ground up, and under the additional challenge of performing it all during a public health emergency.
Those present at Tuesday’s planning session represented the following organizations:
- Pulaski Memorial Hospital
- Pulaski County EMA
- Pulaski County EMS
- Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department
- Pulaski County Public Library
- Winamac Town Police
- West Central Superintendent Dan Zylstra
- Pulaski County Commissioner Maurice Loehmer
- Pulaski County Board of Health members
- Nearly a dozen retired nurses who will help administer the vaccine
- Knights of Columbus leaders
Local health department officials expect to receive the vaccine sometime the week of Jan. 11 and plan to begin vaccinating people shortly thereafter. Local health officials are still waiting to hear on the number of vaccines that will be available initially.
No information has yet been released regarding any priorities (age, medical conditions, etc.) for those who will receive the vaccines first.
Wednesday afternoon, Terri Hansen of the Pulaski County Health Department put out a notice that the office is looking for volunteers to help with the upcoming COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics.
“We will be receiving our vaccines in the next few weeks and will begin (giving shots) shortly after that,” she said. “We will have both day and night shift openings available, as well as Saturdays.
Hansen said volunteers are needed for such tasks as greeters, registration, runners, medical evaluators and other helpers. Anyone wishing to volunteer should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 574-946-6080.
For more information about the vaccine and to track the number of Hoosiers vaccinated please visit: https://www.
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LTCs hit hard by COVID-19
As has been the tragic case across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pulaski County’s nursing homes have also been victimized by the virus – in spite of strict precautionary policies.
Hickory Creek of Winamac was the last to be hit by the virus, but now reports it has had 29 positive cases among residents, with one death; and 12 positive cases among staff.
Pulaski Health Care Center in Winamac has had 25 positive resident cases with 10 deaths; and 9 positive cases among staff. However, administrator Jean Fort notes there have been no cases at the facility since Dec. 8.
Parkview Haven in Francesville has had 23 positive resident cases with 13 deaths; and 24 positive staff cases.
Governor’s weekly COVID-19 update (Dec. 30)
Gov. Eric Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box held a virtual media briefing Wednesday (Dec. 30) to provide updates on COVID-19 and its impact on Indiana.
Joining the governor at the briefing were U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver, and Secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Dr. Jennifer Sullivan.
Holcomb said he is extending his current executive order regarding safety measures to deal with the pandemic for another three weeks. However, after consulting with hospitals across the state, the governor is lifting his order to pause elective, non-emergency hospital procedures. Holcomb said hospitals requested this and assured him they can accommodate the patients and procedures. The governor added the situation will remain under scrutiny, even though there has been a “slight” improvement in COVID hospital numbers.
Dr. Box observed that “we are far from out of the woods” regarding the virus, noting that nearly 3,000 Hoosiers are currently hospitalized due to COVID.
She added that 45 counties are in the ISDH “red” (most serious) COVID metric; only one is in ”yellow,” and the rest are in “orange” (second most serious).
For New Year observations, Dr. Box urged Hoosiers to celebrate only with members of their households. She suggested telephoning others to count down to the New Year, or to step outside their front doors to join their neighborhood in welcoming the new year. “Stay home with your own family,” she said.
Dr. Weaver reported nearly 76,000 Hoosiers have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. They are medical workers and residents of nursing homes.
She said the ISDH COVID Dashboard will add vaccination totals to the website and update it each week.
She added that upcoming vaccine priorities will be to administer the shots to those at risk due to age or medical conditions; or at risk of exposure to or from others.
Dr. Sullivan spoke on the mental health toll of the pandemic.
“We’re all affected by the mental health issues of the pandemic” for many reasons, such as illness, loss of loved ones, stress of quarantine, working or schooling remotely, or caring for others,” she observed. “Whether the mental stress is minor or severe, those affected should not hesitate to seek medical help.”
She explained there are three primary factors in particular that can lead serious mental health situations: loneliness and isolation, past trauma, or relationship issues.
Dr. Sullivan encouraged all to visit BeWellIndiana.org and take the self-assessment survey. Since April, 25,000 Hoosiers have completed the assessments, many of them under 25-years-old. She added the majority of those affected by pandemic stress are ages 40 to 64 years.
She also urged everyone to “Commit to Connect” with others by reaching out through telephone calls, texts, letters and other means of communication.
Sen. Braun noted the COVID relief package approved by Congress includes important resources for farmers and schools, as well as $300 weekly additional federal unemployment and changes to the Paycheck Protection Program to help Hoosier small business owners and workers.
Senator Braun encouraged Hoosiers to visit his website to read resource guides with information about how the federal funds and loans available to unemployed Hoosiers, small businesses, non-profits, farmers, and other organizations at: https://www.braun.senate.
