This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, March 11th, 2021.

Later in the program, we have the latest edition of our podcast, Prescription for Healthcare, hosted by Dr. Rob Stone and Karen Green-Stone. Our guest is Dr. Stan Houston, a professor of medicine and public health, and specialist in infectious diseases at the University of Alberta in Canada. More coming up in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, state health officials announced on Wednesday that Indiana will open up vaccine eligibility to educators at all clinics starting next week. More in today’s headlines.

But first, your local news brief:

Hoosiers ages 50 and older are currently eligible to sign up and receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In a briefing on Wednesday, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that, starting on Monday March 15, certain Indiana teachers will be able to make their COVID-19 vaccine appointments as well.

The new group of Hoosiers eligible for the vaccine include teachers and staff in pre-K through high school, at childcare centers, and in Head Start and Early Start programs. The directive, which matches President Joe Biden’s federal directive to vaccinate school staff in an attempt to reopen schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, does not include college professors.

The list also includes licensed childcare providers, classroom aides, bus drivers, janitors, counselors, administration staff, cafeteria workers, and substitute teachers.

Hoosiers who are first responders or healthcare workers still qualify to sign up for the vaccine, as well. If you qualify, you can sign up online by visiting ourshot.in.gov, over the phone by calling 211 for assistance, or by contacting one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging.

The next group to qualify for vaccine eligibility, according to Governor Holcomb, will be Hoosiers ages 40-49.

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The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce opened up nominations for the 11th annual Women Excel Bloomington, or WEB, Awards. The Chamber of Commerce announced in a press release that it will recognize 7 area women for, “their outstanding leadership in influencing the growth of others in the community and/or in their professional organization.”

Nominees must be at least 21 years of age or older, and cannot be previous WEB honorees. To submit a nomination, visit chamberbloomington.org/web/nomination, or call 812-336-6381.

Indiana to Vaccinating Educators At All State Clinics Starting Next Week

Starting next Monday, Indiana will begin to open vaccine eligibility to teachers at any state clinic.

State health officials made the announcement during Governor Eric Holcomb’s Covid-19 update on Wednesday.

The eligibility expansion includes other school workers, such as bus drivers, cafeteria workers and substitute teachers.

Dr. Lindsay Weaver, the state’s chief medical officer, addressed the new initiative to vaccinate teachers. She also mentioned the next steps in terms of future eligibility expansion.

"Starting Monday, per direction from the White House, we will open eligibility to educators and support staff," said Dr. Weaver.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box broke down Covid-19 vaccine metrics during the statewide update on Wednesday.

"This past weekend marked a turning point for the state, as the number of fully vaccinated Hoosiers surpass the number of Covid-19 cases we've had since March 6th of 2020," said Dr. Box.

Dr. Box clarified when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers someone to be “fully vaccinated.”

"A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the final dose," said Box.