LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear and faith leaders representing more than 50 churches kicked off a 12-hour vaccination event organized by UofL Health in West Louisville, where 2,500 Kentuckians are expected to be vaccinated today.
“Our churches and our health care providers have been on the frontlines throughout our war against COVID-19, and they are now invaluable partners as we vaccinate more and more Kentuckians every day,” said Gov. Beshear. “After a difficult year where we have lost more than 6,000 Kentuckians, it is thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of our health care heroes and volunteers that we are meeting the greatest challenge of our generation and will defeat COVID-19 this year.”
“This is a real shot of hope and it’s significant the vaccine is provided so close to home,” said Pastor David Snardon, president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Coalition and pastor of Joshua Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. “I applaud the leadership of Gov. Beshear and the focus by UofL Health to ensure equitable distribution of the COVID vaccine.”
Gov. Beshear and his administration are partnering with UofL Health and other providers throughout the commonwealth to ramp up vaccinations through regional centers, hospitals, pharmacies and clinics in churches, schools, community centers and other locations, making vaccines more accessible to those who want their shot of hope.
“Transportation, communication and online registration can be barriers. That’s where the churches have been such valuable partners,” said Tom Miller, CEO of UofL Health. “The access barriers are a focus for our team, as UofL Health continues to lead in caring for more and more people from West Louisville. By connecting with the churches, we know this vaccine is reaching the Medically Underserved Areas.”
On Saturday, UofL Health expected to administer about 2,500 vaccines in its largest single-day community vaccine event so far. The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage (KCAAH) provided an ideal location, to ease the barriers and increase access within a federally designated Medically Underserved Area.
“UofL Health is committed to balancing equity in health, employment and education,” said Dr. Edward Miller, chair of UofL Health’s diversity, equity and inclusion council. “We’ve got nearly 700 of our own UofL Health employees that live in West Louisville. We want to grow that number, keep improving access and invest in new generation of health care workers to build a stronger and healthier community.”
Following the delivery of Kentucky’s first doses of vaccine to UofL Hospital, UofL Health started expanding its reach from fixed drive-through sites into area neighborhoods, particularly through partnerships with area churches. The collective effort has resulted in more than 65,000 vaccines administered.
The Beshear administration and UofL Health are collaborating to open the state’s largest drive-through vaccine clinic at UofL Cardinal Stadium on April 12, when all Kentuckians ages 16 and older will be able to sign up for appointments. At the site, UofL Health will be vaccinating up to 4,000 people per day while vaccine supplies continue to be available. Starting March 31, Kentuckians can schedule appointments that begin April 12 by calling 502-681-1435 or visiting uoflhealth.org.
About 1.25 million Kentuckians, more than a third of adults, have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the more than 570 vaccination sites throughout Kentucky.
The Governor continues to highlight vaccination sites with available appointments and encourages Kentuckians in Phase 1A, 1B or 1C, as well as any Kentuckians who are 50 and older, to sign up.
On March 29, all Kentuckians 40 and older will be eligible for all three highly effective COVID-19 vaccines, although vaccination sites will continue to prioritize older individuals.
Kentucky’s COVID-19 Vaccine Website, vaccine.ky.gov, shows Kentuckians which phase they are in specifically. Individuals can sign up for notifications so state officials can communicate with them when doses become available at new and existing sites. Kentucky’s vaccine map lists regional vaccination partners statewide, so individuals can search their county or region and see how to schedule an appointment. Below the vaccine map, Kentuckians can find additional vaccination sites at Kroger, Walmart and Walgreens stores, as well as independent pharmacies.
Kentucky’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, 855-598-2246 or TTY 855-326-4654 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians), has the same features as the website. Kentuckians can get assistance completing the vaccine eligibility questionnaire and scheduling an appointment when doses are available. The hotline is available 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.
Free or reduced-cost transportation to and from vaccination appointments is offered by public transit agencies across the commonwealth. These services are already operating in over 90 counties, covering 75% of all counties across Kentucky. Kentuckians can find transportation services near them by heading to kycovid19.ky.gov for a full list of participating public transit agencies and their phone numbers, or by calling the Kentucky COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline.