LOUISVILLE, Ky. — All essential workers and anyone age 60 or older could start getting their COVID-19 vaccine soon in Louisville.
Most Kentuckians are still waiting for their turn to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but starting Monday, March 1 Louisville will allow vaccinations for Phase 1C.
Mayor Greg Fischer tells Spectrum News 1, ”beginning on Monday individuals 60 and older can begin scheduling their appointments to get vaccinated through our various vaccine providers.”
At the LouVax site Broadbent Arena, Mayor Fischer said that COVID-19 vaccination sites will start taking appointments for people 60 and older.
This follows an announcement from Gov. Andy Beshear who is moving into Phase 1C of the vaccination plan, that group also includes anyone 16 or older with the highest risk conditions and all essential workers.
“We do have a real reason for hope and optimism that the next 12 months are going to be very different and much brighter than the last 12 months,” explains Fischer.
As the pandemic nears the one-year mark, Louisville will soon reach a grim milestone. "As a community, we will be approaching, I’m sorry to say 1,000 deaths in the next several weeks,” adds Fischer.
But, as the city acknowledges those killed by the virus, the mayor noted a hopeful message.
“By taking the vaccine and with all of us working together at LouVax and throughout our hospital systems and pharmacies, clinics we are getting closer to herd immunity, explains Fischer.
Louisville Metro Department of Public Health Doctor SarahBeth Hartlage, says that moving onto the next phase will open the vaccine to thousands of Kentuckians.
“This is potentially a very large group measured in hundreds of thousands rather than tens. While our vaccine supply is increasing and we expect it to continue to do so the vaccine remains a precious resource,” suggests Dr. Hartlage.
When scheduling appointments, Dr. Hartlage says priority will be given to those 60-year-olds because individuals in the age group have high-risk factors related to COVID-19.
“We know from experience that the greatest burden of severe disease, hospitalization, and death occurs in the group of adults over the age of 60. We expect that placing this emphasis will really save many lives,” says Hartlage.
With supply limited, ensuring equity in the hardest-hit areas has been of paramount importance for those on the COVID-19 task force.
“Please remember that the schedule is and likely will remain very full. Your appointment maybe a few weeks from now. You may spend some time on a waitlist. We ask for your patience as we are committed to delivering vaccines as the supply allows,” explains Dr. Hartlage.
According to Dr. Hartlage, since Thursday, only 167,973 people have received their vaccine in the metro area and even with higher allocations, the city has a long way to go.
“That includes 110,789 primary or first doses and 57,091 boosters or second doses. Approximately 18% of our community has received their first dose and approximately 9% has received both,” says Dr. Hartlage.
Organizers mentioned that Louisville residents 70 and older who are still waiting to receive their vaccine still have priority when scheduling appointments.
“This is outstanding news for the community. We want to get as many shots into as many arms as we can,” explains Mayor Fischer.
Health officials say it will take around five to six weeks to full vaccinate people in the Phase 1C group.
Each of the city’s vaccine providers offered specifics about how appointments will be handled:
Family Health Centers, Park DuValle Community Health Center
Family Health Centers & Park DuValle Community Health Center will directly contact their patients, 60 years and older to schedule vaccine appointments. Community Health Centers are located in underserved communities and are part of both local and national efforts to get the vaccine to hard-to-reach communities. Louisville Community Health Centers do not have large vaccine supplies at this time and will continue to partner with the local hospital systems to assist in getting vaccines to our patients and underserved areas of Louisville.
Norton Healthcare
Registration is now open for vaccination appointments at four locations:
Dixie Highway near the Watterson Expressway, in the retail center off Heaton Road next to Norton Immediate Care Center - Dixie
Norton Brownsboro Hospital campus – Medical Plaza 2
Republic Bank Foundation YMCA at 18th and Broadway
St. Matthews at Dutchmans Lane and Breckinridge Lane, next to Pep Boys
Norton Healthcare has also launched a direct online link to register for the vaccine.
Those who are ages 60 and older can go to NortonHealthcare.com and click on Vaccine Eligibility in the red box.
Baptist Health Louisville
Baptist Health Louisville has opened a drive-through vaccination clinic located in Parking Lot 3 at the corner of Breckenridge Lane and 4000 Kresge Way. It is the main parking lot on the right when entering the campus at Entrance 1 from Kresge Way. Normal operating hours are 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. The drive-through vaccination clinic will replace the current vaccination site within the hospital’s Education Center. Vaccinations are by appointment only. Appointments can be made at www.scheduleyourvaccine.com
UofL Health
Registration will be available for drive-through vaccination appointments at three locations:
Downtown – corner of Brook at Liberty - 499 S Brook St, Louisville, KY 40202
South Louisville – Mary & Elizabeth Hospital - 1850 Bluegrass Ave, Louisville, KY 40215
Bullitt County – Medical Center South - 1903 W Hebron Ln, Shepherdsville, KY 40165
Appointments are limited based on the availability of vaccine supply. New appointment blocks will post at uoflhealth.org on Thursday mornings, although additional openings may post as they become available.
Those who are ages 60 and older can go to uoflhealth.org and register, based on availability.