Health officials push vaccine as Indiana virus cases tick up

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s top health officials are warning that spread of an especially contagious coronavirus variant is “significantly increasing” across the state.

The news comes as more than half of Indiana's population remains unvaccinated.

State health commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said during a news conference Friday that Indiana’s COVID-19 positivity rate has crept up to 3.2%, after dropping to 2.1% in late June.

Top health officials also warned that Indiana continues to see “concerning” gaps in vaccine uptake, both by age and geography.

Less than half of residents ages 40 to 49 have been vaccinated.

Just one-third of those aged 16 to 29 have been vaccinated.

And less than 20% of residents ages 12 to 15 are vaccinated.

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