As the federal government begins the process of authorizing more COVID-19 vaccine boosters, local health care organizations are making preparations to get those shots out to Hoosiers.

Ahead of students returning to school, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging parents to get their students COVID-19 vaccines. It says the approach helps protect students and their families.

The Marion County Public Health Department said the new pediatric vaccine for children 6 months through 4 years is available to families by appointment.

In a statement, the state health department said booster doses help prevent hospitalization and death from COVID-19 and variants. Statewide cases have more than doubled in just the last month.

Congress rejected pleas from the White House to pump more money into programs that ensure COVID tests, treatments and vaccines are free for everyone. Public health experts warn the funding cuts will worsen health disparities and hurt those who are already most vulnerable.

Black adults in the U.S. were hospitalized at nearly four times the rate of White adults during the recent omicron wave, according to a new study from the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some small towns in the Midwest are growing due to an influx of immigrants, which includes some who speak rare languages. Hospitals and community leaders have had to adapt to make COVID vaccines accessible to those communities.

The Indiana Department of Health made new changes to its dashboard. Hoosier physicians push back on Attorney General Todd Rokita’s advisory on unproven COVID-19 treatments. And Indiana has reported fewer than 1,000 new cases statewide for seven days.

Senate lawmakers Wednesday significantly scaled back legislation that would've largely prevented private employers from enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates.