LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Turns out the University of Kentucky football team isn’t alone when it comes to winning at Kroger Field. Tuesday, UK Healthcare and its partners launched an in-stadium COVID-19 vaccine clinic. Roughly 2,000 people received their first dose on opening day.
“We’re vaccinating anywhere from 80-85 people per twenty minutes,” said Joe Monroe. Monroe is the campus police chief, who’s also overseeing the operations center for this endeavor.
Monroe said the plan is to vaccinate up to 2,000 people today alone, and 10,000 in all this week. Next week they’ll hope to inoculate another 8,500 people, and then in the third week, the number jumps to 20,000, but that includes those who will be coming back for the booster shot.
“It was great. Really efficient. Only took about eight minutes. I’m so grateful to the people who are volunteering their time to do this,” said vaccine recipient, Dani Bradley after receiving her dose.
Perhaps no group is more grateful, however, than the school teachers of Fayette County. It’s one of only a handful of districts around the nation, that have remained with virtual learning since the beginning.
“I’m ready to get back in school now. I’m ready to be back in-person, back to seeing kids’ faces, families. Just somewhat back to normal,” said elementary school teacher, Sara Lyn Kingsolver.
It’ll still be a while before we get to that point. Even Sara won’t be fully protected for at least another month, once the second dose takes effect. But it’s a step in the direction we’re all hoping to head in together.
“We’ll continue to be careful for everyone around us until e know a little more about the efficacy,” Bradley said.
Paul Klumb, who battles asthma, is breathing a little easier today thank to that little injection.
“I’ll still wear my mask because this (vaccine) only makes it so you aren’t as sick, it’s not definite that you won’t get it, but I am relieved,” he said on his way out of the stadium. “I felt it was important to get vaccinated, not only for me but for those I interact with.”
