FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — More state leaders received their initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Monday, including Secretary Michael Adams.
“Like Vice President Pence, Gov. Beshear, Senate President Stivers and House Speaker Osborne, I’ve taken the coronavirus vaccine in order to promote its safety and efficacy to my constituents,” Adams said. “Whether your politics are red or blue, this vaccine is for you, and I hope our example encourages Kentuckians to take the vaccine and defeat this virus for good.”
The Monday vaccinations follow the first vaccinations in Kentucky on Dec. 14, when the first round of hospitals began receiving and administering 38,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to front-line health care workers.
On Dec. 21, long-term care facility residents and staff began receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through Walgreens and CVS, which have an agreement with the federal government.
Last week, about 80 regional hospitals and more than 90 local health departments received over 70,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to inoculate more health care workers.
Auditor Mike Harmon, Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Lisabeth T. Hughes and Justice Samuel T. Wright III also received the vaccination in the Capitol Rotunda.
“I was offered and will gratefully receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s important to get people back to work and kids back to school, which is why we need to get the vaccine to everyone as soon as possible,” said Auditor Harmon. “Thank you to the scientists, medical professionals, UPS’s Louisville Worldport and President Trump for Operation Warp Speed.”
The leaders who have been vaccinated this month have emphasized the safety of the vaccine and encouraged other leaders to take the vaccine when it is their turn.
“The purpose is to build confidence in the vaccine. If we truly want to defeat COVID, we need to vaccinate more than 70% of Kentucky’s population, and that requires validators who are willing to step up to take the vaccine to show that it’s safe,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is also important for continuity of government. These are the top elected officials under the Constitution, and it’s critical that they receive the vaccine to perform their functions.”
As of today, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been administered to more than 11,000 Kentuckians, predominantly health care workers. With both vaccines, a second dose is required about three weeks later.
Gov. Beshear said Kentucky is expecting more than 202,000 doses of vaccine before the end of the month with the second dose coming for each about three to four weeks later.
