LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Several churches planned to hold COVID-19 vaccine clinics this week but had to cancel for lack of demand. On Wednesday, Valley View Church's coordinated clinic with Norton Healthcare didn't happen, since hospital officials said fewer than five people had signed up. A doctor told Spectrum News 1 that medical professionals will regroup to figure another way to get more shots in arms, but it's hard to tell why the demand is declining. 

South Louisville neighbors like Billy Jones hope to have things back to normal as soon as possible. He's a barber operating out of the same shop his father started in 1982 at Billy Jones Barber Shop. He's been vaccinated and says most of his clients have.

"I'm grateful to be vaccinated," he beamed, "I hope it works out for all of us."

Doctors hypothesize what could be the reason for less vaccine demand is that many people have already been inoculated. Another guess is that there are people still hesitant to get the shots. 

Norton Healthcare coordinated with Valley View Church and Louisville Metro Councilwoman Amy Holton Stewart, D-District 25, and Councilwoman Cindi Fowler, D-District 14, to hold a clinic at the church Wednesday. However, it was canceled because of a lack of registrants. Other events have also been called off. The patients that planned to go have been booked at other vaccination sites. Norton's Physician In Chief Dr. Joseph Flynn is pledging to redouble efforts to meet people elsewhere. 

"I'm not so much discouraged. I think I want to work doubly hard to implore people to get vaccinated, because that really is the key to truly get out of this pandemic," Flynn said. 

Jones wasn't aware of the church clinics nearby his shop but reveals some clients of his are still looking to get the vaccine. 

Barber Billy Jones works nearby the church vaccine clinic sites, and was not aware the events were supposed to happen. He says some of his clients are still looking to get the shots. (Spectrum News 1/Ashleigh Mills)

"I had a couple come in today, you know, wondering about it and you know, I just sent them to Walgreens and told them that might be the best step," he added. 

Spectrum News 1 reached out to Valley View Church's pastor for a comment but has not heard back. Flynn offered a message of his own, of sorts.

"It sounds like I'm on the pulpit myself kind of preaching about this, but I feel passionately about this," he said, "the data is compelling. People who get vaccinated don't have the bad outcomes that non-vaccinated people do. We see people getting back to life, those that have been vaccinated, so there's a lot of opportunities by doing that. That's why I think we'll keep changing and pivoting on how we're going to approach those people, keep trying to reach them in whatever way is comfortable for them.