COVID-19 vaccinations remain on schedule in Tippecanoe County

That's in stark contrast to hospitals nationwide experiencing high demand and long lines.

Continues to roll out the covid-19 vaccine.

But that's in stark contrast to hospitals nationwide experiencing high demand and long lines.

News 18's joe paul has been following the distribution of the vaccine in tippecanoe county.

He joins us live with the latest look at the numbers.

Joe?

Hundreds of people every day cross through the doors here at iu health arnett to receive their covid-19 vaccine.

I'm told the process is relatively quick and easy.

But the same can't be said for many hospitals across the country.

"it's treated like liquid gold, right?"

Iu health arnett is not wasting a single dose of the covid-19 vaccine, says chief medical officer dr. james bien.

"it's life-saving.

If we're wasting a dose, that's an opportunity to protect somebody and also anybody that might be exposed to them."

The hospital has vaccinated 45- hundred frontline medical workers and emergency responders as of tuesday.

But the nationwide rollout remains behind schedule and far short of 20-million-dose goal by the end of the year.

Meanwhile long lines are forming at hospitals in other states as demand continues to soar.

"we are doing a really good job distributing what has been sent to us and not some of the worrisome challenges that we're hearing about in the media from other communities and other hospitals."

The process has been smooth for health care workers in tippecanoe county.

"i just signed up and it was pretty easy.

I got in the next day actually."

Holly ziegler, a staff member at a local orthodontist, says she was in and out of the vaccine clinic within 30 minutes.

"i think everyone should get vaccinated to help everybody out in the community.

We've been doing really well in this community, i think, of being safe so i think it's a really good idea."

Staffing could be a limiting factor as more people become eligible for the vaccine and more vaccination sites go online.

Bn says the hospital is leaning on volunteers to keep up with the high demand.

"it takes a lot of people not just to coordinate and keep track and schedule but also people to administer and then monitor and observe for the 15 minutes following vaccines."

The pfizer-biontech and moderna vaccines are administered in two doses several weeks apart.

And bien tells me the second round of vaccinations begins tomorrow.

Reporting live in lafayette, joe paul, news 18.