FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky is accelerating the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations next week by expanding statewide eligibility to every adult age 50 and older, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday.

The vaccination pace will reach new heights in coming weeks, with Beshear making a commitment to open up vaccine eligibility to every Kentuckian age 16 and older by April 12.

“We can’t have these things sitting in the freezer,” Beshear said in referring to vaccine doses. “We are in a race against these variants. We’ve got to get it out fast.”

The next phase of expanded inoculations will start Monday when the 1C vaccination category will be widened to include Kentuckians age 50 and older. The segment has included people 60 and older, anyone older than 16 with high-risk medical conditions, and anyone deemed an essential worker.

Some vaccine sites have already expanded eligibility even further. Earlier Thursday, UK Healthcare announced it would allow all Kentuckians aged 16 and older to schedule appointments at its Kroger Field clinic.

The governor announced that three new regional vaccination sites will open — two in Louisville and one in western Kentucky. That will raise the number of vaccination locations across the Commonwealth to 570.

New regional sites include:

• Cardinal Stadium: 2800 S. Floyd St., Louisville, KY 40209
  • This will become Kentucky’s largest COVID-19 vaccination site, vaccinating up to 4,000 people per day while vaccine supplies continues to be available.
• Whitney Young Elementary: 3526 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., Louisville, KY 40212
• Kentucky Dam Village Convention Center: 113 Administration Drive, Gilbertsville, KY 42044

Vaccination appointments will begin to be filled March 24, but Kentuckians can pre-register now at kyvax.com/kydam or call 859-217-4679.

The state on Thursday reported 785 new COVID-19 cases and 31 more virus-related deaths. Kentucky’s rate of positive cases fell to 3.23%, the lowest since early July.