WOODFORD COUNTY Ky. — Woodford County is the first Kentucky county to vaccinate 70% of its adults with at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.
What You Need To Know
- Woodford County is the first to reach a 70% COVID-19 vaccination rate among 120 counties
- Woodford County shows 71.9% of people 12 years and older are fully vaccinated
- Fayette and Franklin County also reached 70% vaccination milestones
- One resident said the FDA's full approval of the Pfizer vaccine was the push she needed
While some parents are hesitant to sign their kids up for the vaccine, Octavia Wilson jumped at the opportunity.
"My dad is up in age, and I don’t want him being sick. I want my kids to be able to be around their grandfather cause that’s the only grandfather they have," explained Wilson.
The once hesitant mom of triplets said the Food and Drug Administration's full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was the added push her family needed.
"I just waited 'cause I was afraid, but now that I’ve been hearing all these stories that its best to get the vaccine, you need to get the vaccine, so I was like, 'I’m definitely going to get my kids vaccinated,'" said Wilson.
According to the Woodford County Health Department, as of Wednesday, at least 71.9% of people 12 years and older are fully vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 12 and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination.
That’s why siblings Jaylen, Jayden and Jayda McKinney took part in the county’s vaccine clinic, and each had their own reasons to get the shot.
"They don’t want to get their friends sick. I told them, 'It's very important to get vaccinated so you can be around your friends, and you can go to your sports,'" said Wilson.
With the full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine recipient Margie Stone hopes it will encourage even more people to get the shot.
"If you have the opportunity, why not do it? Yeah, it helps yourself to stay well. It helps your fellow people, friends and family around you," explained Stone.
Stone said rolling up her sleeve is a simple way to put the pandemic in the rearview mirror.
"Whatever we could do to support the eradication of this terrible thing that we’re going through that we ought to be able as a citizen to do that," suggested Stone.
Now, this grandmother and the triplets are looking forward to the freedom that awaits them and hope others will follow in their footsteps.
"The sooner we can get back to normal the better off we are," said Stone.
Fayette County and Franklin County have also reported that 70% of those eligible have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.