COVID-19 Vaccine Being Administered In Indiana, Kentucky

Local health departments announce the vaccine is expected to be shipped in early 2021

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(undated) – As COVID-19 vaccinations are beginning to be administered, local health departments have announced they are expecting their first shipment by early 2021.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health, more than 50 Indiana hospitals and clinics are expected to receive more than 55 thousand doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the week.

The Scott County Health Department announced yesterday, that the county has its distribution plan in place, and are currently waiting for final guidance from the state health department before announcing the plan publicly.

Scott County Preparedness Coordinator Patti Hall stated, “We were able to use our H1N1 influenza plans and experience to quickly create our plans for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. We will be using our bays for drive-thru services for all patients.”

At this time the health department stated that they are unsure who will qualify for the vaccination or who will have priority.

In Jefferson County, there has not yet been a report on when the vaccine will be received, but the first round of this vaccine will go to first responders. Most residents will then have to wait until the shipments are made available locally in order to receive the vaccine.

One of the most common questions is what is in the vaccine.

According to the FDA, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine contains RNA (mRNA), which is genetic material. The vaccine contains a small piece of the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s mRNA that instructs cells in the body to make the virus’s distinctive “spike” protein. When a person receives the vaccine, their body will produce copies of the spike protein, which does not cause the disease but triggers the immune system to learn to react defensively, producing an immune response against SARS-CoV-2.

The COVID-19 vaccine will require two doses to be administered before a person is fully immunized. According to the Indiana Department of Health, the two doses will be administered a minimum of 21 to 28 days apart. 

The approved vaccine comes from Pfizer Inc. and is intended for individuals 16 years of age and older.

The most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. Of note, more people experienced these side effects after the second dose than after the first dose.

Along with health care workers, Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer for the Indiana Department of Health stated that long term care staff residents are also being prioritized for the vaccine because of the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 has had on these vulnerable Hoosiers.

The #COVID19 vaccine is now making its way to Indiana.

Here's the info you need to know ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/osmHyvj6z8

— Governor Eric Holcomb (@GovHolcomb) December 9, 2020

In Kentucky, the vaccine has already been administered to nurses and doctors at U of L Health. Governor Beshear announced earlier this week that the seven Kentucky Hospitals received their vaccine deliveries on Monday and Tuesday. Those hospitals include Baptist Health in Corbin, Louisville, and Madisonville; Norton Hospital in Louisville; UK HealthCare in Lexington; Pikeville Medical Center; and St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood.

Vaccine doses will be limited early on, but the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be widely available sometime in 2021. The FDA could approve a second vaccine from Moderna this week.

For more information on the vaccine, you can visit, www.fda.gov.