Former Gov. Steve Beshear receives his COVId-19 vaccination. (Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office.)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Eleven top legislative leaders from throughout the commonwealth and five former Kentucky Governors and their spouses received the COVID-19 vaccination Monday in the Capitol Rotunda, highlighting the bipartisan support for the safe vaccines that are Kentucky’s best path to defeat COVID-19.
The House and Senate leaders who received the Moderna vaccine Monday are:
- House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy of Paducah,
- House Minority Floor Leader Joni Jenkins of Shively,
- House Minority Caucus Chair Derrick Graham of Frankfort,
- House Minority Whip Angie Hatton of Whitesburg,
- Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer of Georgetown,
- Senate President Pro Tempore David Givens of Greensburg,
- Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams of Louisville,
- Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson of Bowling Green,
- Senate Minority Floor Leader Morgan McGarvey of Louisville,
- Senate Minority Whip Dennis Parrett of Elizabethtown, and
- Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas of Lexington.
Former governors who have been vaccinated:
- Julian Carroll, 1974 – 1979
- John Y. Brown Jr., 1979 – 1983
- Martha Layne Collins, 1983 – 1987
- Paul E. Patton, 1995 – 2003
- Ernie Fletcher, 2003 – 2007
- Steven L. Beshear, 2007 – 2015
The former Kentucky Governors released a joint statement after receiving their vaccinations.
“We all look forward to the day we can get back out into the Kentucky communities we love so much and gather with our friends and family, but until then, we urge our fellow Kentuckians to wear masks, limit their gatherings and take the vaccine. This vaccine is a medical miracle – the shot of hope Kentuckians and Americans have been looking forward to for almost a year to save lives, reduce the spread of this deadly virus, allow more of our neighbors to return to work and ensure our children and educators can safely return to school. This vaccine is safe, effective and our best hope of defeating COVID. We urge all Kentuckians to roll up their sleeves, take the fight to COVID and do their part to move the commonwealth forward.”
“These men and women showed their willingness to lead once again by stepping forward, regardless of party, age or geography, to spotlight the safety and the value of this vaccine in ending this nightmare for Kentucky and emerging a better commonwealth,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Thanks to them for demonstrating the importance of this vaccine in saving our fellow Kentuckians and ending this pandemic.”
Former Govs. Steve Beshear and Ernie Fletcher, once political opponents, are collaborating to urge Kentuckians to set aside partisanship and political differences to work together and defeat COVID-19.
“Right now is the time to set aside political differences and come together to defeat COVID-19,” the Governors said.
Former Governor Ernie Fletcher received his COVID-19 vaccination today. (Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office.)
House Speaker David Osborne of Prospect and Senate President Robert Stivers of Manchester received the vaccine in December.
“I can think of no better start to this legislative session than lawmakers from both sides of the aisle coming together to demonstrate to our fellow Kentuckians that these vaccines are safe and effective,” said Gov. Beshear. “This show of bipartisan support for the COVID vaccine is a great start to the year and a prime example of what we can do when we set aside politics and put our people first.”
“Public health officials on both the state and national level have advised that getting this vaccination is critical to building public confidence in its safety,” said House Majority Floor Leader Rudy. “I am here today to do just that. As availability increases statewide and we enter new phases of the distribution plan, I urge Kentuckians to consider getting vaccinated. President Trump’s efforts through Operation Warp Speed have led to a decisive moment in this pandemic, and now we have a chance to successfully stop the spread of this virus.”
“I’m proud to join with many of my fellow elected leaders in the campaign promoting the use of this vaccine and encourage every Kentuckian to get vaccinated if at all possible,” said House Minority Floor Leader Jenkins. “This life-saving medicine is a modern medical miracle, given how quickly it was developed and how safe and effective it is. The more who take it, the sooner we can get back to the way of life we all want.”
“COVID-19 has been devastating in so many ways, and I cannot wait for the day when this pandemic is behind us,” said House Minority Caucus Chair Graham. “This vaccine is the path that gets us there, which is why I am more than happy to take part and to ask other Kentuckians to join with us. I think of this vaccine as the moon shot of our times, because it proves once again just how much we can accomplish when we work toward a common goal.”
“I’m grateful to have the chance to promote this vaccine and believe it is important for elected officials to set a positive example,” said House Minority Whip Hatton. “That also means we cannot let our guard down until vaccine use is widespread and infection rates are close to zero. We must remain vigilant in wearing our masks, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands, but the good news is that, thanks to this vaccine, better days are on the horizon.”
Gov. Beshear received his vaccination Dec. 22 along with Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr., Speaker Osborne and Senate President Stivers, heads of the three branches of Kentucky government, ensuring the continuity of state government during this pandemic and demonstrating broad, bipartisan support for the safe, effective vaccine.
Top federal and state health leaders, including U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield, have encouraged governors and other public officials to publicly receive the vaccination to emphasize the safety of the vaccine and to build confidence and public support.
Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, urged state leaders to receive the vaccination for the continuity of state government and to demonstrate to Kentuckians that the vaccine is safe and effective.
Four members of the Kentucky Supreme Court, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, Secretary of State Michael Adams, Auditor Mike Harmon, Chief Judge Denise G. Clayton of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Dr. Stack, acting Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. and Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett have received the first dose of the vaccine. First Lady Britainy Beshear, J. Michael Brown, the highest appointed official in Kentucky as secretary of the executive cabinet, Gov. Beshear’s chief of staff, La Tasha Buckner, and his senior advisor, Rocky Adkins, also have been vaccinated.
Gov. Beshear encouraged other community leaders including those in elected office, business executives and faith leaders, to take the vaccine when it is their turn. Meanwhile, until more people are vaccinated, the Governor said Kentuckians must continue to take precautions to slow the spread and save more Kentuckians from COVID, which has already killed more than 2,700 people in the commonwealth alone. People must continue to wear masks, social distance and avoid gatherings.
The Monday vaccinations follow the first inoculations in Kentucky on Dec. 14, when the first round of hospitals began receiving and administering 38,000 doses of the 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.
As of today, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been administered to more than 60,000 Kentuckians, predominantly health care workers. With both vaccines, a second dose is required three to four weeks later. To date, Kentucky has received more than 120,000 doses of vaccine. This week, Kentucky is expected to receive 53,700 additional doses with 27,300 from Pfizer and 26,400 from Moderna.