Shot in the arm for Gary Mayor Jerome Prince

Gary Mayor Jerome Prince receives COVID-19 vaccination

Contributed By:The 411 News

Mayor Jerome A. Prince encourages Gary residents to get any of the three available COVID-19 vaccinations to help Gary make strides in the fight against the pandemic.

Michael Gonzalez, City of Gary’s press secretary said Mayor Prince received the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine during a mass vaccination event at Calumet New Tech High School last Sunday. It was important to demonstrate the safety of the vaccine and to set an example of leadership in Gary, Mayor Prince said, calling on other City elected officials to get vaccinated.

“We all know the medical horror stories of what happened decades ago in communities of color, and that’s a legitimate concern for everyone,” he said. “But, this vaccine is safe, and we must get vaccinated to move our City forward and to protect every one of our residents.”

City of Gary Health Commissioner Dr. Roland Walker, who received his two-dose vaccination in early February, said Gary can break out of the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic by developing the “herd immunity” that can come from a robust vaccination program in Gary.

“When we all get vaccinated, we all contribute to making Gary healthy and beating this virus,” Dr. Walker said.

Gary residents who don’t have access to the Internet can call (219) 318-0675 to get assistance registering and making an appointment for the vaccine.

Lake County has 21 COVID-19 vaccination sites. The City of Gary operates two of the sites: The Gary Health Department building, 1145 W. 5th Ave., and at Holy Angels Cathedral gymnasium, on 7th Ave. and Polk St. To make an appointment at any of these sites, visit the online registration page www.ourshot.in.gov or dial 211.

Following Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s announcement Tuesday that the state will remove the statewide mask mandate on April 6, Mayor Prince is calling for several more weeks of mandatory mask wearing in his city.

“I respect Governor Holcomb’s latest decision on a statewide mask mandate. In the City of Gary, we will continue the face covering for another two weeks,” said Mayor Prince.

Governor Holcomb said the mask mandate will be an advisory order, meaning local governments, private businesses and other entities may institute more stringent guidelines. “Face coverings will remain mandatory in all state buildings and facilities and in all vaccination and COVID testing sites until further notice. K-12 schools will continue under current requirements through the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.”

During the extended mandatory mask mandate in Gary, Mayor Prince said, “We’ll track the numbers of new COVID-19 positive cases and COVID-19 related deaths, local hospitalization data and the progress we’re making on vaccinations. Those metrics will give me and my team the information we need to make a decision on how and when we will ease the mandate.”

Story Posted:03/25/2021