LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville’s Broadbent Arena is home to the Metro’s mass vaccination site and according to Public Health Director Dr. Sarah Beth Hartlage, the operation has been running like clockwork.
Hartlage said it’s because of this efficiency the site is poised to change the vaccine it administers.
What You Need To Know
- Louisville's mass vaccination site is switching from Moderna to the Pfizer vaccine
- Beginning Wednesday, Lou Vax will administer Pfizer shots due to a state allocation change
- Lou Vax is better equipped than smaller sites to handle Pfizer's storage requirements
- The site at Broadbent Arena averages 7,500 doses a week
“On Wednesday, Lou Vax will be transitioning from the Moderna to the Pfizer vaccine. This is due to a state allocation change,” Hartlage said Friday.
The Pfizer vaccine requires ultra cold storage and Hartlage said out of all the vaccination sites in the state, Broadbent is best equipped to handle the specs of Pfizer.
“The specific challenges inherent to using that Pfizer product that maybe some of our smaller health departments in more rural counties are less able to handle,” Hartlage explained.
According to the Public Health Department, 21% of Louisville's population has had at least the first dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine and anyone waiting for their booster dose at Expo Center will receive it without issue as Broadbent makes preparations to administer the Pfizer vaccine.
Hartlage expects the total number of vaccines administered next week will drop slightly. Currently the site is averaging 7,500 doses a week. However once the switch is complete Dr. Hartlage expects the number of doses given out to rise in subsequent weeks and months.