FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) – Governor Andy Beshear announced the first regional vaccination site, operated by Kroger, to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to Kentucky residents.
Starting Tuesday, February 2 at 10 am, people who qualify for the vaccine can go to Kentucky Horse Park to receive their first dose. The venue is located within the Alltech Arena (4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY).
You can schedule a time to start at 5 pm on Thursday at kroger.com/CovidVaccine. It is necessary to make an appointment to receive the vaccine. Vaccines will be distributed from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm in the first week. From the week of February 8, people can apply to receive the vaccine from 10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Saturday.
“At Kroger Health we are committed to helping people live healthier lives and are happy to be able to provide an easy solution for Kentucky residents seeking a vaccine,” said Pheli Roberts, health leader for the Kroger Louisville Division. “Our team at Kroger Health is with you to keep Kentucky and the surrounding communities healthy and safe.”
Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray says there will be 3,000 appointments available in the first week, approximately 600 people a day. New appointments will be added to the site around 6:00 am daily.
The vaccination priority COVID-19 will be for people in phase 1b over 70 years old. All vaccination sites are being asked to prioritize this population until further notice. Others from phases 1a and 1b will be eligible for vaccination. People in 1c will be eligible if locals have extra doses, ensuring that they meet the 90% vaccine distribution target the state receives.
Beshear told me that they wanted to provide the vaccine to people in 1C starting next week (which was the original plan), but the low supply and spikes in demand mean they need “a little more time” @ LEX18News
– Mike Valente (@ ValenteLEX18) January 28, 2021
The vaccine phases in the state are:
- Phase 1a: long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, health personnel
- Phase 1b: first respondents, Kentuckians aged> = 70, K-12 school staff
- Phase 1c: Kentuckians aged> = 60, anyone over 16 with high-risk conditions from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for COVID-19, all essential workers
- Phase 2: Age> = 40
- Phase 3: Age> = 16
- Phase 4: children under 16 if the vaccine is approved for this age group (estimated at 18% of Kentucky’s population)
Three additional regional sites are being opened through partners Ephraim McDowell Hospital in Danville and Western Baptist and Lourdes Mercy, both in Paducah.
If you go to Kentucky Horse Park to get your vaccine, follow the signs for the Alltech Arena parking lot, which is free for visitors. Vaccines will be administered in the Alltech Arena building, on the main pedestrian level.
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Kentucky residents must wait in their vehicle up to five minutes before the scheduled vaccination time. People should also wear a face mask and remain socially distant from others. If you have difficulty walking to the entrance, security guards and the National Guard will be on site with golf carts to guide you to the entrance. In case of bad weather, there will be a socially distant line in the corridor, so no one has to wait outside.
This is what the vaccination site looks like indoors:
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The state is also launching a new website to see if you are currently qualified for the vaccine and other information tools. Go to vaccine.ky.gov or call (855) 598-2246 or (855) 326-4654 (use this number if you are hearing impaired). You can call between 8:00 am and 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday.