More than 8,800 Kentuckians took the first dose from the COVID-19 vaccine.
Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday, the present allocation in the federal government will allow their state to distribute the vaccine to a lot more than 202,000 people.
The second Moderna shipment will be under first planned, but Pfizer's third shipment is going to be bigger than its second, Beshear said.
“The total allocation, what should be received in the Commonwealth by the end of this month, it's 202,650 doses, and remember they contain the booster,” he explained. “So, they are 202,650 people who can be vaccinated here in Kentucky. That’s really exciting.”
The goal is to vaccinate 70 to 80% of Kentuckians, he explained. The vaccines will continue to go to frontline healthcare workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities through mid-January.
“We’re dealing a massive blow to this pandemic by prioritizing long-term care, we're given a second wind to our frontline healthcare workers,” Beshear said.
He said he expects the state to have more details concerning how to vaccinate the next groups recommended through the CDC: people over 75 and other essential workers.
Beshear reported 3,057 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky Tuesday, saying he believed their state has reached a plateau just in case growth.
He also reported another 28 deaths, bringing the amount of Kentuckians lost to the coronavirus to 2,440.
Beshear urged caution throughout the holidays and said he'd be celebrating Christmas with only his wife, children and dog. He said the steps Kentucky residents take with the holidays will help protect each other as vaccine dissemination increases.
“Make sure you do this right, make sure you keep it small, the way you handle Christmas and New Year’s may determine who's around next Christmas,” he said.
Earlier Tuesday, Beshear along with other top government officials took the first dose of the Moderna vaccine.
