LOUISVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — Kentucky's initial shipment of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was delivered to Louisville’s UPS Worldport on Sunday. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first to win approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“The Pfizer vaccine, which we believe to be 95% effective, has now been authorized in this emergency for us to start vaccinating individuals,” said Gov. Beshear in a press release. “The vaccine started to be shipped from the factory and a significant portion landed in Kentucky today. Kentucky is going to play a major role in getting this vaccine to people all over the eastern United States through UPS’ Worldport. We in the commonwealth are excited to be a big part of defeating this virus all over this country. We now believe that the first individuals will be vaccinated here in the commonwealth tomorrow morning. We are less than 24 hours away from the beginning of the end of this virus.”
As shipments continue, Kentucky is expected to receive exactly 12,675 vaccine vials that will soon make their way to 11 regional and ready hospitals in Louisville, Paducah, Bowling Green, Madisonville, Pikeville, Corbin, Lexington and Edgewood and an additional 25,350 are being delivered to CVS and Walgreens, destined for long-term care facilities in our commonwealth.
The Moderna vaccine is expected to be approved soon. This month alone, Kentucky could receive 150,000 doses of a vaccine.
Local health departments have also been working closely with Gov. Beshear and Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, to prepare for these distributions.
“Our community doctors and nurses, as well as long-term care residents and staff, are preparing to do their part first,” the Governor said. “We will all get a turn. When it is your turn, I strongly encourage you to get vaccinated so you can do your part to protect yourself, your family and our entire state.”
