LEXINGTON, Ky. — Vaccinations for those in group 1C are already taking place in some parts of the state. As more sites expand to that group, officials with University of Kentucky are calling for more volunteers.
What You Need To Know
- Phase 1C of vaccinations in Kentucky have already begun in some areas, but it expands to the majority of the state on Monday
- As more sites expand to 1C, the need for volunteers grows as well
- The University of Kentucky is calling for anyone interested to help volunteer to administer vaccines and facilitate the clinics
- Group 1C includes anyone aged 60 and up, essential employees, and anyone 16 or older with the highest risk conditions
Group 1C includes anyone aged 60 and up, essential employees, and anyone 16 or older with the highest risk conditions, so you can imagine there’s a ballooning need for volunteers.
“Today, I decided to volunteer because one I’m a contact tracer at UK Health Corps, so a lot of what I do on a daily basis is trying to do my part in curbing the spread of COVID-19,” said Maya Cleveland, a volunteer.
Cleveland said she’s stepping in church for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
“It’s my home church. I wanted to do my part for my community and help everyone here, members of the community to get vaccinated today,” Cleveland said.
First Baptist Church Bracktown transformed into a mobile vaccination clinic Saturday. It’s through a partnership with the regional vaccination site at Kroger Field.
Lance Poston is the Assistant Vice President in Student Success and the Acting Co-Director of UK Health Corps. He said there’s a big need for clinician volunteers.
“As we ramp up not only a Kroger Field but other locations from other organizations around the state, given those axioms we know, being able to do that, quicker and as efficiently as possible will help us make it through to the right get shots and arms of all of those 1C folks who would like a vaccine,” Poston said.
Poston said they’re working with Gov. Andy Beshear's office to add more guidance so various clinicians could soon start vaccinating people.
“You have your traditional nurses, physicians, and those sorts of professions that have always given immunizations, but we also see expansion to groups that wouldn't previously been giving vaccines like dentists, for example,” Poston said.
Simultaneously, UK said they’re also needing volunteers in nonclinical roles at their vaccine clinic.
“I think as a younger generation, we can help educate those in the older generation and help bring them to places like this. People need help, people need guidance and I think as the younger generation we can do that and I think we should step up and do it,” Cleveland said.
The mobile clinic helped administer roughly 350 doses Saturday. Here’s a link if you’re interested in volunteering.