LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — 600 more Kentuckians got their first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday by scheduling appointments at the new regional clinic the state is running out of the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena.
The new endeavor was made possible by a partnership with Kroger that’ll allow up to 3,000 Kentuckians to receive their vaccine weekly for as long as the shipments keep coming in.
“Supply, supply and supply,” Gov. Andy Beshear said of one of the few remaining obstacles to getting all Kentuckians protected against coronavirus.
Transportation Cabinet Secretary and former Lexington Mayor Jim Gray echoed those thoughts. Gray has been appointed by the governor to oversee distribution across the state.
“Remember that we are still in the very early stages of this,” Gray said. “Your time will come. When the supply increases, we are ready."
So far the state has demonstrated readiness and capacity to inoculate on such a massive level. As the vaccine supply has come in, we’re told they are getting it out. Staging clinics in large venues help in that regard as social distancing protocols can still be observed even with so many people in one space.
The horse park-Kroger clinic will run every Thursday through Saturday for as long as they have the supply to continue scheduling appointments. And anyone who received their first round of the vaccine here will be put on the schedule for a return visit in a few weeks to get that booster shot.
“It’s exciting, even in these difficult times, to open Kentucky’s first regional vaccine site,” Gray said. "It’s is a significant early step in the overall plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of upwads of 2.5 million Kentuckians."
Gray said there are many factors used when deciding on a regional vaccine site, including geography, and how many people they feel they can move through these buildings.
“We don’t want people having to drive more than one county over to get a vaccine,” Gray said.
Beshear sounded giddy over this morning’s launch.
“When we look back on this battle years from now, today will be one of the days that mark a real turning point in when we began to win this war against COVID-19,” Beshear said. “When it’s your turn, let’s roll up your sleeves and get this shot of hope.”
