LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The University of Kentucky has announced its plan to speed up the vaccination process in Kentucky.
UK president Eli Capilouto sent out an email Friday night saying that beginning Tuesday, all of UK Healthcare's vaccinations will be centralized at a clinic at Kroger Field.
That clinic will operate from Monday through Saturday. It's scheduled to start vaccinating K-12 employees next week.
"We are working directly with school officials on that process," Capiluoto wrote. "We are excited to partner with the state and our schools."
In order to receive a vaccine, you must have an appointment. Those without an appointment will be turned away.
Those who are eligible can request a vaccination appointment here.
In total, UK reports it has given out 12,000 vaccinations.
In an email, Capiluoto explained the challenges of the vaccination process and his commitment to the community.
As you might imagine, we are managing thousands of names and reams of information and moving quickly to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible, in accordance with the state’s parameters. At the same time, the state has – rightly – told us that we are to use every dose we get, each week, as quickly as possible. This is our commitment. That commitment is essential, as the vaccines must be refrigerated on site. And when they are taken out of that refrigeration, they must be administered quickly. It is not a perfect process now, and it will not be going forward. But we are working to make the process better each day. I am confident we will.
And the bottom line is this: each person vaccinated – regardless of who they are – makes our people safer and our community healthier.
He added that UK will prioritize health care workers and providers and emergency first responders, as directed by the state. Those covered by the university’s health insurance program also will be prioritized.
Anyone with questions about the process can call 859-218-0111 or email vaccine@uky.edu.
