FRANKFORT, Ky. — More than 10% of Kentuckians have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, but the number of vaccines distributed to members of Kentucky's Black, African American, and Hispanic populations is too low, Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday. 


What You Need To Know

  • More than 10% of Kentuckians have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

  • Beshear says number of vaccines distributed to members of Kentucky's Black, African American, Hispanic populations is too low

  • For fifth straight week, Kentucky has vaccinated more people than the number of doses received from the federal government

  • About 1.1% of vaccines have gone to residents in the Commonwealth's Hispanic population and Black and African American Kentuckians have received about 4.3% of the shots

"We’re using everything we’ve got, and we’re using it within seven days," he said in a briefing. "We just need more supply." 

For the fifth straight week, Kentucky has vaccinated more people than the number of doses received from the federal government, according to the governor.

"Overall, of all the first doses we’ve received, because that’s what we’re trying to do, vaccinate individuals, how many unique people have been vaccinated, we have put 91 percent of all those doses we’ve received in someone’s arm," he said. 

The latest data show Kentucky has received more than 490,000 first doses and given them out to 444,930 people. 

CDC records put Kentucky at 28th out of U.S. states, territories, and federal entities for the number of doses administered per 100,000 people, with more than 12,000.

About 1.1% of vaccines have gone to residents in the Commonwealth's Hispanic population and Black and African American Kentuckians have received about 4.3% of the shots, Beshear said.

"That’s not acceptable," Beshear said. "It needs to be closer at least to the eight percent, which is the makeup of the population ... We knew from national reports that Black and Latino people were more hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccination and that they’re being vaccinated at a lower rate. We’re committed to addressing these concerns."

Beshear said Kentucky plans to track that data every week.

"We need to be intentional about our interventions here to address equity and fairness and to reach people who are more vulnerable or require more reassurance that the vaccine is safe," said Dr. Steven Stack with the Kentucky Department for Public Health.