Kentucky’s COVID-19 vaccination rate could rise quickly, as the state’s largest mass vaccination site opens today.
The University of Louisville’s Cardinal Stadium serves as the Commonwealth’s newest vaccination location and will distribute up to 4,000 doses per day over seven weeks, a press release says.
The new drive-through clinic features 28 vaccination lanes in the stadium’s purple parking lot, 3134 S. Floyd Street, Louisville. Four of the lanes are for people who arrive by vehicle or on foot without appointments.
About 100 health care workers, volunteers and Kentucky National Guard members are on hand for the effort to vaccinate 20,000 Kentuckians at the stadium, which is located about 90 minutes southwest of Cincinnati. Residents generally are able to receive vaccine doses six days a week, though the clinic will be closed April 29-May 1 for Kentucky Derby events and May 8 for university graduation ceremonies.
All Kentucky residents ages 16 and up are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Residents can find information and make appointments for vaccination at the stadium at UofLHealth.org or by calling 502-681-1435.
The state and University of Louisville Health are partnering on the vaccination site, which was chosen because of its central accessibility and proximity to underserved communities, the press release says.
“We are committed to making sure everyone who wants a vaccine can easily receive one. Our goal with this vaccine site, and the pop-up sites we’ve hosted throughout the community, is to decrease barriers, increase access and balance equity in health,” Tom Miller, CEO of UofL Health, says in the release.
Upon opening the new vaccination site on April 12, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced that the state would remove some coronavirus safety restrictions once 2.5 million residents receive their first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Restrictions the state could lift include capacity limits and physical distancing requirements for venues, events and businesses that bring in 1,000 or fewer patrons.
After reaching the vaccination threshold, Beshear also would end the nightly curfew, he said. Under current orders, bars and restaurants may serve food until midnight and remain open until 1 a.m.
Masking and limitations on mass gatherings would remain in effect, the governor said, noting that the state is 900,000 vaccinations away from its goal.
As of April 8, there were 377 Kentuckians hospitalized with coronavirus and 102 in the intensive care unit, according to figures provided by Beshear; 645 new COVID-19 cases were reported throughout the state.
To see all COVID-19 vaccination locations in Kentucky, visit vaccinemap.ky.gov.
