Thursday afternoon Gov. Andy Beshear announced a new Kroger regional vaccination center at the former Sears Site, at Greenwood Mall, 2625 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green.
You can schedule an appointment at Kroger.com/covidvaccine or call 866-211-5320. You may also schedule by clicking the vaccine tab at kycovid19.ky.gov.
Another vaccine site is opening at TJ Health Pavilion, 301 North L Rogers Boulevard, Glasgow. To schedule an appointment visit tjregionalhealth.org, or call 270-659-1010.
The state’s focus continues to be on those age 70 and older. You may also text “senior” to 270-796-3200, or email your full name, date of birth and phone number to vaccine@mchealth.net, to be placed in the queue for a vaccine appointment at the Medical Center in Bowling Green.
Public health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack also said district and county health departments will receive more doses based on population served.
“This is part of our continued commitment to make sure you don’t have to drive more than one county away to get your vaccine,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’re not fully there yet, but if you look through the progression of where we were a week ago compared to where we are now, you see how this is coming together.”
Kroger Health sites are open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. local time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Rolling, seven-day appointments went live Thursday night after the Governor’s announcement. Visit Kroger.com/covidvaccine or call 866-211-5320 to sign-up.
Another regional site Beshear announced:
- Murray State University CFSB Center
- 1401 State Route 121 North, Murray, KY 42701
- Feb. 10, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Feb. 17, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Kentuckians in this region can visit callowayhealth.org or call 270-753-3381 to sign up for appointments.
Murray State University partners include: Calloway County Health Department; Murray-Calloway County Hospital; Dr. Bob Hughes, Chief Medical Officer of Murray State University/Chief Medical Officer of VillageMD Kentucky; The City of Murray; and Calloway County.
- TJ Regional Health, T.J. Health Pavilion
- 301 North L Rogers Blvd., Glasgow KY 42141
- Dates and hours are still being determined at this time
- Kentuckians in this region will be able to sign up at tjregionalhealth.org, or by calling 270-659-1010.
“At Kroger Health we are committed to helping people live healthier lives and we’re happy to be able to provide an easy solution to those Kentuckians seeking a vaccine,” said Pheli Roberts, health leader for Kroger Louisville division. “Our team at Kroger Health stands with you to keep Kentucky and the surrounding communities healthy and safe.”
“Murray State University (MSU) is very pleased to assist the commonwealth and Gov. Beshear as a regional COVID-19 vaccination site,” said Dr. Bob Jackson, president of MSU. “We have excellent facilities, dedicated people and an important duty to help with delivering vaccinations to this region in partnership with the Calloway County Health Department, MSU Health Services, Murray Calloway County Hospital and many others in the Jackson Purchase as we work to end this pandemic.”
Neil Thornbury, chief executive officer, T.J. Regional Health, said, “We have a process in place and will schedule appointments starting next week. Also, we want to extend our sincere appreciation to our leaders at the state for communicating and coordinating this historic process.”
“I am confident that when you include Kentuckians immunized through federal agencies, like the Veterans Administration, we’ve vaccinated more than 10 percent of all Kentuckians, and these new sites will help us expand that number even more,” said Dr. Stack. “While we still have a long way to go, to have vaccinated 10 percent of the state not even 11 months after we announced our first case of COVID-19 – that is really nothing short of a modern medical miracle.”
Vaccine Allocation for District and County Health Departments
Dr. Stack announced for the next three weeks, every district health department and county health department will receive a vaccine allocation equivalent to 1% of the population of each county they serve, rounded to the nearest 100, with a minimum allocation of 100 doses per county.
“All 120 counties will now be serviced through their local health departments,” said Dr. Stack. “The quantities are insufficient. The vaccine quantities, overall, are not enough for the task, but this is still incremental progress.”
Doses will be provided on Feb. 8, Feb. 15 and Feb. 22, and second doses will arrive four weeks later. Ninety percent of doses must be administered within the week. Doses should be used to vaccinate the 70+ age group.
Federal Pharmacy Program
The federal government will ship out one million vaccine doses nationwide to Walgreens branches and independent, local pharmacies. Dr. Stack said Kentucky will receive approximately 13,000 doses for approximately 80 to 100 Walgreens stores and 40 to 50 local pharmacies. This new allotment is in addition to the state and long-term care allocations previously announced.
“As soon as next Thursday, these pharmacies may be able to start operating through this program,” said Dr. Stack. “We think they’ll have about 100 doses per pharmacy and these will be much closer in your community. The focus continues to be on people 70 and over.”
Faith leaders encourage communities, congregations to take vaccine
Gov. Beshear thanked leaders of different faiths and denominations from throughout Kentucky who are taking the vaccine against COVID-19 and encouraging those in their congregations and communities to take the vaccine when they have the opportunity. With concerns in the commonwealth and across the country about distributing vaccines equitably, Gov. Beshear is partnering with faith leaders to educate communities and address vaccine hesitancy on the front end.