The eligibility for getting the coronavirus vaccine across Kentucky continues to edge downward. Governor Beshear used his briefing Thursday to announce starting Monday, those 40 and over can get their shots.
Beshear has said previously the eligibility could fall all the way to 16 and above by mid-April. “I will say we are pretty close in the Commonwealth to opening to everybody, but we’re going to take this next step. And remember, all of our sites are allowed to dip down into the lower priorities if that’s what it takes to get 90% of what they get each week into peoples’ arms,” said Beshear.
Governor Beshear reported 726 new coronavirus cases Thursday along with 19 new deaths, the majority of which occurred prior to March. The positivity rate inched up to 2.9%. The governor said there were no new cases reported in long term care facilities, something he said he couldn’t remember the last time that was the case during a formal briefing.
Governor Beshear along with State Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack has repeatedly stressed the importance of all eligible Kentuckians getting a COVID-19 vaccination. While all the approved vaccines have been shown to be effective in preventing serious coronavirus illness, the question of transmission has remained. Dr. Stack says there’s growing evidence to suggest the fully vaccinated are not passing the virus on to others. “It appears that people who are vaccinated are probably less likely to infect other people, even if the vaccinated person themself gets infected,” explained Stack.
Beshear asked Kentuckians still waiting for a vaccination to not be choosey about which one they get. The governor is confident vaccination supplies will remain consistent.
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