LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Diana Pichardo, a 15-year-old from Louisville, got her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Saturday.

"It didn't hurt at all," she said. "I think you should just get it for extra protection."

What You Need To Know

  • Organizers say 54 people got a dose of the vaccine during the two-hour event called Fancy Vaxx

  • The vaccination clinic was located at the IUE-CWA Local 761 in Louisville 

  • Plans for a different event changed due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, according to Democratic leaders

  • Sen. Gerald Neal (D, Louisville) urged others to get the vaccine while speaking live on Facebook from Fancy Vaxx 

She was one of 54 people who organizers said got a dose of the vaccine at Fancy Vaxx. 

The two-hour event at the IUE-CWA Local 761 was led by the Louisville Democratic Party and local unions, according to organizers.  

Rep. Joni Jenkins (D, Shively) said organizers had been planning a different event, but shifted the focus because of the rise in COVID-19 cases in Kentucky. 

"As we were seeing those numbers just rise, we thought ... we need to pull back and we decided the most important thing that we could do as a group and it was a group of labor unions, the Democratic Party, some concerned citizens, we thought the best thing that we could do for the community was to organize a vaccination site," she said.

Sen. Gerald Neal (D, Louisville) went live on Facebook from the event, encouraging others to get the shot.

"This is not just about COVID-19," he told those listening in. "This is about a more insidious, virulent aspect. It’s a variant, called delta."

After he logged off, Neal told Spectrum News he was speaking from experience because had already been through COVID-19.

"When I look at Louisville, they talk about the demographic information," he said. "I understand there’s only 20% of African Americans vaccinated ... I’ve been hit by COVID. I know what it will do and almost did to me."

As of Friday, records show Kentucky had 2,612 new cases, six additional reported deaths and a 7-day positivity rate of 10.46%.

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D, Louisville) said he worried about the upcoming school year.

"I worry about the young kids who, up to 12, who cannot be vaccinated yet and the more we have this variant circulating through our state, the more vulnerable people like the young kids are going to be." 

Sen. Morgan McGarvey (D, Louisville) called the vaccination effort "bigger than politics." 

"Keeping yourself and our community safe shouldn’t be a political issue, so we’re here today just to do our part to help keep our businesses open, to help keep our schools open, to help keep our communities safe," he said.

Related Stories