State vaccine registration website slows under surge from Hoosiers

On its first day, Indiana’s registration website for COVID-19 vaccinations is being barraged by visitors trying to sign up for inoculations, causing a slowdown to the system.

The Indiana Department of Health said Friday morning the website, ourshot.in.gov, and the alternate 2-1-1 phone registration system were working but urged Hoosiers to be patient if put into holding queues.

“High interest in COVID-19 vaccines has caused slowdowns to the state’s vaccine registration site and 211 system, but both systems are working,” the health department said in a statement. “Hoosiers age 80 and older who are now eligible are encouraged to continue to check the sites throughout the day.”

The registration website went live at 9 a.m. Friday, two days after Gov. Eric Holcomb and state health officials urged Hoosiers age 80 or older to sign up for vaccinations.

About 33,500 Hoosier age 80 or older were registered for vaccines between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., state officials reported. Among those, 21,000 scheduled appointments in the first 90 minutes after registration opened.

It’s unclear whether the state underestimated public interest in getting vaccines or if the registration website had other technical issues.

For weeks, Indiana has been reserving the vaccines for front-line health care workers and staff and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Wednesday’s announcement that the state would begin making vaccinations available to the general public, starting with Hoosiers 80 and older, was the first guidance Indiana officials have given on when others could begin to get vaccinated.

“We are gratified by the high interest in vaccine registration for our most vulnerable Hoosiers and encourage everyone to be patient,” State Health Commissioner Kris Box said in a statement. “We anticipated these scenarios on the first day and have a system in place to address them as quickly as possible.”

Under the plan, other age groups will follow in descending order over the next few weeks, as Indiana begins to make the vaccine available to the general public.

Vaccinations are free, and family members can register for seniors. Hoosiers can also register by calling 2-1-1 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week, starting Friday.

Hoosiers 80 and older account for 3.8% of the state’s population but more than 19% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 52% of COVID-19 deaths.

The state will announce on the website when it is ready to move from one age group to the next, moving down in 10-year increments.

Holcomb predicted on Wednesday it would take “weeks, not months” to work through to the 60-69 age group and then throw open the vaccinations to the general population.

“I’m bullish on that,” he said.