Gov. Beshear: 2 new regional vaccination sites coming to Eastern, Western Kentucky
FRANKFORT, Ky– On Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear said the Federal Emergency Management Agency will stand up two new regional vaccination sites soon in Eastern and Western Kentucky.
The Governor said the state’s largest vaccination site, UofL Health’s Cardinal Stadium location, can now vaccinate up to 6,000 Kentuckians per day. To sign up, visit UofLHealth.org.
Kentuckians should visit vaccinemap.ky.gov to find a COVID-19 vaccination site near where they live and to see a list of vaccination sites with openings this week.
“We need you to get vaccinated. The good news is there are half a million first doses ready to go into people’s arms. At many of these vaccination sites, you can sign up right now for tomorrow at about any time, or any day that’s most convenient for you,” said Gov. Beshear. “Make the decision tonight.”
Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meets tomorrow, April 23, for follow-up discussion on its recommended temporary pause of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, following reports of exceedingly rare, but dangerous, blood clots.
“The risk of severe harm and death from COVID-19 vastly exceeds any rare risk from the Johnson & Johnson vaccination, and most experts anticipate the pause on this vaccine will be lifted soon, possibly as soon as tomorrow,” said Dr. Stack.
Dr. Stack also commented on an investigation into a COVID-19 outbreak at a Kentucky skilled nursing facility, which he previously reported and has discussed on multiple occasions, after most residents and some staff members had already been vaccinated. The outbreak was featured in the CDC’s most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
“Compared to vaccinated residents, unvaccinated residents had a three-fold increased risk of infection and unvaccinated staff a four-fold increased risk of COVID-19 infection,” said Dr. Stack. “Vaccination was approximately 87% effective in preventing symptomatic infections among both residents and staff. These vaccines work. They are highly safe and effective. The sooner we all get vaccinated, the sooner COVID-19 can be put behind us and we can more fully resume our pre-COVID-19 lives.”
Kentuckians put themselves at significant risk if they do not get vaccinated. Looking at the overall population, roughly 1 in 706 Kentuckians has died from COVID-19 since the first case of the virus was confirmed in the commonwealth; approximately 1 of every 69 Kentuckians who has been infected with COVID-19 has died.
Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, April 22, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:
Kentuckians vaccinated (have received at least one dose): 1,696,530*
New cases today: 628
New deaths today: 5
New audit deaths: 3
Positivity rate: 3.36%
Total deaths: 6,381
Currently hospitalized: 440
Currently in ICU: 121
Currently on ventilator: 55
Top counties with the most positive cases today are: Jefferson, Fayette, Boone, Warren and Daviess. Each county reported at least 20 new cases.
To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.
*Vaccination data will continue to update after the state’s reporting system completed a security upgrade.
More Information
To see all vaccination sites and free transportation options to and from vaccination appointments, visit vaccine.ky.gov. To see a list of vaccination sites that have openings this week, visit vaccinemap.ky.gov. If Kentuckians have questions, they should call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, 855-598-2246 or TTY 855-326-4654 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians).
To view the full daily report, incidence rate map, information on testing locations, vaccines, contact tracing, school reports and guidance, guidance for health care providers and the White House Coronavirus Task Force reports for Kentucky and more, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.
