In addition to state policies regarding coronavirus in areas of health care measures and educational settings, Kentucky lawmakers are also debating philosophies about the virus. Lawrenceburg Senator Adrienne Southworth offered such comments on the floor Wednesday. Afterward, she said the legislative conversation should go well beyond masking and vaccinations.
Northern Kentucky Senator Chris McDaniel said, as budget committee chair, everything’s got to balance. He said it’s important to examine the bottom line of COVID. McDaniel said that includes the number of unvaccinated people in hospitals and in intensive care.
“We can debate how we get from A to Z and all the various routes in-between. But at the end of the day, when you have to do the balancing act, in the final measure, the numbers don’t lie. The vaccine works and we need to take it,” said McDaniel.
Louisville Senator Karen Berg spoke about costs associated with antibody infusions for treating COVID. The Louisville radiologist says the cost of the antibodies alone exceed $3000 while the cost of the vaccine for one injection is $37. “So when we’re moving forward, as a body, making decisions that impact our state, we have got to consider the bottom line,” explained Berg.
Bills are moving through committees in the House and Senate. Floor votes are expected in the next few days.
