Vaccine on its way, end of pandemic begins

Muhlenberg County Health Department is preparing for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks, director Cathy Bethel told members of the Muhlenberg County Health Coalition at a virtual meeting on Dec. 9. While plans are not yet firm, she expects the county to begin receiving the doses in late December or early January.

This news comes as the county has faced 10 deaths and 239 new cases in the month of December so far.

Governor Andy Beshear announced Sunday the initial shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Kentucky, delivered to UPS Worldport in Louisville.

“The Pfizer vaccine, which we believe to be 95% effective, has now been authorized in this emergency for us to start vaccinating individuals,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are less than 24 hours away from the beginning of the end of this virus.”

On Monday, the first doses of the vaccine were given to five healthcare workers at University of Louisville Health Hospital. UofL Health in Louisville, Baptist Health in Lexington, and Medical Center at Bowling Green received 975 doses each on Monday, and began their vaccination plans.

Beshear said the UPS hub in Louisville will play a major role in shipping the vaccine to locations across the eastern United States.

Bethel at the health department said logistics are being worked out for local roll-out, with pharmacies taking a leading role in serving assisted living, personal care and nursing home facilities, and the department is working on mass vaccination plans.

“First responders will be the first ones that are going to be vaccinated,” Bethel said, “along with all the nursing homes.”

The Ag Center will be the site for mass vaccinations, which will be by appointment. Because the health department does not know the schedule for vaccine release, and will not know how many doses will be available at a given time, these vaccinations will be by appointment.

The department is investing in a portable refrigerator and freezer, which will allow them to transport vaccines, which need to be stored at cold temperatures. Bethel said the unit was funded by the Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation, and will be helpful with transporting and storing other vaccines as well as the vaccines for COVID-19.

Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital will likely begin to receive doses of the vaccine next week, said Jessica Browning, spokesperson for the hospital.

“We have developed a prioritized, tiered list of which departments will begin the vaccination process first,” Browning said. “Our plans are to begin with residents and team members in our longterm care unit, and other frontline healthcare workers who are directly dealing with COVID-19 patients. We do not have a definite timeline for when these vaccines will be available to the general public at this time, but it will likely be in the spring.”

Browning added the hospital system is recommending employees take the vaccine, but it is not required.

“This is fantastic news and offers hope we are beginning the end of this pandemic,” shared Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Department for Public Health. “Early doses will be limited in supply and immunization will begin with nursing home residents and frontline health care workers. From there, as vaccine shipments continue, Kentucky will immunize all health care workers and first responders, followed by the K-12 education community to get our children and educators safely back to school. More federal guidance on subsequent populations to be immunized will be available in the upcoming weeks. Having vaccines this quickly is a modern medical miracle. Having patience in the months ahead is essential, though, as vaccine supplies increase and hopefully all interested persons have access to vaccination by the end of summer 2021.”

Beshear said Sunday the positivity rate has dropped below nine percent, and the rate of new cases has slowed over the past week. Decreases are linked to tighter restrictions on restaurants, bars, gyms and other businesses over the past few weeks. These restrictions have been lifted on Dec. 14, and officials ask Kentuckians to stay vigilant, and continue to use social distancing and masking to help combat the spread of COVID-19.