LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Wednesday marks the first day Kentuckians can start signing up for appointments at the soon-to-open mass vaccination site at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville. When vaccinations begin on April 12, this will become the largest mass vaccination site in the Commonwealth. UofL Health, which will run the vaccination site, aims to administer 25,000 doses per week.
What You Need To Know
- Vaccination appointments open today for Cardinal Stadium
- The site opens April 12
- It will be the largest mass vaccination site in the Commonwealth when it opens
- Kentuckians 16+ can register
“I hope to be able to push hard for the first three weeks and really get as many people through that site. We are finishing the touches on the vaccine supply. That’s the last part of it," said Dr. Jason Smith, UofL Health's Chief Medical Officer. "The state is helping us as far as making sure we have enough vaccines to get this out, but I am looking forward to it.”
The site opens April 12, which is the same day eligibility in the state expands to include all Kentuckians 16 or older. The Pfizer vaccine is the only one currently approved for use among 16 and 17-year-olds. Smith said UofL Health is accepting appointments for Kentuckians that age. UofL Health is partnering with the state to make sure there are enough Pfizer doses on hand for those Kentuckians who cannot get the other shots.
As more and more Kentuckians get vaccinated, case numbers, hospitalizations, and the positivity rate have been declining. Smith sees that as a positive sign signifying the vaccines are working. He hopes that vaccination momentum continues as more Kentuckians become eligible to get their shots.
“We obviously still have cases of the disease running through the community, so we need to be careful a little bit longer. We are already seeing a vast reduction in the number of people admitted to the hospital, a vast reduction in the number of people needing antibody treatments and the other things that we have," said Smith. "If we continue to push forward, particularly when we start prioritizing people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, I think we will see a real reduction across the board in the number of cases coming through.”
Most people who book an appointment will use a drive-thru method to get their vaccine dose. However, there will be options for anyone who walks, bikes, or rides a bus to get there. UofL Health is also working with TARC to make this vaccine site as accessible as possible.
Anyone interested in booking an appointment can do so online at UofL Health's website, or by calling 502-681-1435.