Kentucky hospitals have announced how they'll allocate Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine when it opens up later this month.
At Thursday's briefing, Gov. Andy Beshear said about 38,000 doses is going to be dispersed throughout Kentucky included in the first shipment. Two-thirds of the shipment goes to long-term care facilities, and the other 12,675 doses is going to be divided between 11 hospitals for frontline workers.
Norton Healthcare and University of Kentucky HealthCare are the 3 hospitals which will receive two pallets from the vaccine, totaling 1,950 doses each. Each held press conferences Friday to discuss how the vaccine will be stored and which employees will be included in the first round.
Pfizer's vaccine must be stored at minus 80 degrees Celsius. Each hospital had to be able to handle the reduced temperatures to qualify for the first batch.
Dr. Joseph Flynn Chief Administrative Officer at Norton Medical Group and Physician-in-Chief at Norton Cancer said all kinds of employees will be considered for that vaccine, not just doctors and nurses.
“We want all relevant parties in those areas to have equal accessibility vaccine,” Flynn said. “It might be an eco service person. It might be a food care worker. We are looking at those holistically according to your vulnerability from the types of patients that are predominantly there as well as your chance of having extended contact with patients with COVID-19.”
Flynn expects the first shipment to reach after Dec. 10. Booster shots, that will require one more 1,950 doses, will be delivered about three weeks later, he said.
On Thursday, UK HealthCare received a mock shipment to check its process.
“Our ongoing coordination with the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the CDC is crucial as Kentucky prepares to start administering the very first COVID-19 immunization shots,” said UK HealthCare Chief Pharmacist Philip Almeter inside a statement. “This exercise will assist you to ensure an efficient vaccine distribution as quickly as possible following a vaccine receives regulatory approval.”
University of Louisville Hospital can get 975 doses of the vaccine. On Thursday, additionally, it held a briefing to discuss its distribution process and show in which the vaccine will be stored.
Dr. Jason Smith said thousands of employees all levels are exposed to COVID-19 on a daily basis.
“To come with an chance to get the vaccine to ensure that they are not using this home to their own families I believe is an immense walk into trying to get to some normalcy,” Smith said.
Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Pikeville Clinic, St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood and the Clinic at Bowling Green will get 975 doses each. Four Baptist Health sites – Madisonville, Louisville, Corbin and Lexington – are also getting that quantity.
