NASHVILLE, IN. — Record numbers of Americans are getting vaccinated against COVID-19: an average of 3 million shots a day. President Joe Biden is now calling on states to make all adults eligible by April 19. That's two weeks earlier than his previous deadline. Indiana is well ahead of it, thanks in big part to partnerships between health departments and local organizations. That's the case in Brown County.
"Since the building was originated, thought of, built, it's always been community-based," Christian Webb, Brown County Music Center's Executive Director, said. The Music Center hasn't had a show since March 2020. Webb says it made sense to open this space up for the community to use as a testing and vaccination site. "When the opportunity arose, our calendars were quite open without shows. We thought it would be great to work with the Department of Health and be good stewards to the community."
Since the beginning of the year, around 5,700 shots have been given at the location. That number increases every day as people stream in for scheduled appointments and calls from waiting lists. The hum of people coming and going reminds Webb of what the community will get to experience again in the near future.
"This is going to sound weird but they play music over here in the waiting area and sometimes just hearing the music again gets us all excited," Webb said. The community has taken notice of the efforts happening here.
"They thank us. They appreciate it. When we hear from the frontline healthcare workers and they say this is best set up they could ever imagine, it just makes us feel really good," Webb said.
The Brown County Music Center serves as a vaccination site Tuesday - Saturday. To schedule an appointment for the vaccine, go to www.ourshot.in.gov or call 211.
