By Hayley Robb, Building Kentucky
Four new regional COVID-19 vaccination sites opened across the state on Feb. 4 in partnership with Kroger Health. The Kentucky Horse Park in Fayette County was the first site to open on Tuesday, Feb. 2. There are now regional sites in Lexington, Paducah, Danville, Covington, Bowling Green, Murray and Glasgow.
The new regional sites are expected to vaccinate 3,000 Kentuckians per week, prioritizing Kentuckians ages 70 or older in Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination plan.
“This is part of our continued commitment to make sure you don’t have to drive more than one county away to get your vaccine,” Governor Andy Beshear said in a press release.
As of Feb. 8, 410,050 total COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Kentucky. Of that number, 80,925 doses have been distributed to the Long-Term Care facilities.
Gov. Beshear announced Kentucky is also on track to be the first state to vaccinate educators. This news comes with an increase in the state’s COVID-19 vaccine supply. The state’s supply will increase by 22% the week of Feb. 8 compared to the week of Jan. 25, officials said.
As more vaccines become available, the state will shift to Phase 1C, which includes all essential workers, to help reach Kentucky’s goal of administering 90% or more of the vaccine doses within seven days of arrival from the federal government.
Pheli Roberts, a health leader at the Kroger Louisville Division, said the team is thrilled to help Kentuckians seeking the vaccine find an easy solution.
“Our team at Kroger Health stands with you to keep Kentucky and the surrounding communities healthy and safe,” Roberts said in a press release.
Transportation Secretary Jim Gray, who also serves as the director of the Vaccine Distribution Project, reminded Kentuckians while more vaccine sites are becoming available, supply is still limited.
“We have no doubt that any available appointment will fill up immediately and we need every Kentuckian to know our ability to add more appointments and vaccine locations is strictly dependent on supply,” Secretary Gray said in a press release. “We do already have more Kroger regional sites planned in the weeks to come and we look forward to sharing that exciting news soon.”
To help identify and locate each regional site, the state launched a new interactive map that provides details on how to register for a COVID-19 vaccine, contact information and directions to each site. You can find it here.
To follow along with vaccine progress or sign up for vaccination eligibility alerts, Kentuckians are encouraged to visit the state’s new vaccine website at vaccine.ky.gov.
