Johnston urges Ohio Countians to get vaccinated

In Local, News by OC Monitor Staff

By Lee Bratcher/OC Monitor

HARTFORD, Ky. — Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston returned to Facebook Live to give an update to the county about the current resurgence of COVID-19. It has been several months since Johnston has had to do such an update.

Johnston began the update by going over today’s report from the Green River District Health Department. Ohio County added another 37 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with two Ohio Countians being hospitalized due to COVID-19 related complications.

The new resurgence is not just occurring in Ohio County, but the whole Green River District has had an alarming rise in confirmed cases.

“Of all the new (COVID-19) cases, 91% have been unvaccinated folks, Johnston said.

Johnston also pointed out that the 17 recent deaths in the seven-county Green River Area were all unvaccinated people.

“I’m urging all of you to get vaccinated,” Johnston pleaded. “I understand some of you have concerns, (but) based on the research by our local and state health departments (there are) little to no long-term side effects from getting vaccinated. No one has died from the vaccine in (the Green River) District and we don’t know of anyone anywhere that has died from the vaccine. The many rumors floating (around about) these deaths have been found to be untrue.”

Johnston closed his update by asking all of those who haven’t received their vaccination, to go get it immediately. You can visit the Ohio County Family Care at 20 E. McMurtry Ave. in Hartford from 8 a.m.-4:30 pm. Monday-Friday. Both first and second doses will be administered there. To speak to someone at the OC Family Care, call 270-215-9082.

You can also visit the Ohio County Health Department at 1336 Clay St. in Hartford. If you’d like to speak to someone at the health department, call 270-298-3663.

You can also visit Midtown Pharmacy ExpressRice’s Pharmacy, King Drug and Home Care and Walmart Pharmacy.

“Get this pandemic behind us, let’s get vaccinated,” Johnston said. “You have entrusted me with the highest elected office in Ohio County, the office of judge-executive. You’ve trusted me with millions of your dollars and you’ve entrusted me with the services you get from local government. So I’m asking you, once again, to trust me when I urge you to get vaccinated.”