UofL Health officials are setting up a three-day pop-up site in Shively, part of their mission to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine to more parts of the community.The site is being set up in the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, and the plan is to vaccinate a little more than a thousand people.Councilwoman Keisha Dorsey is helping with the effort, as she stated the virus is disproportionately affecting African Americans. She believes the idea of setting up a site in a city, that has the most Black community members per-capita in the state, is a no-brainer.“Traditionally through this whole process you’ve seen government officials making decisions,” said Dorsey. “What you haven’t really seen is government officials getting waist-deep, and actually executing those decisions.”She believes lack of transportation to a site, and not having the technology to sign-up are two of the main factors limiting people from getting the vaccine. So in addition to setting up shop closer to people, Dorsey figured it would be best to go to people’s homes as well. “We deployed a team to actually go door to door, knocking on people’s doors, and actually physically registering them up,” she said. “Giving them a phone number they could call, and we have received more than 900 calls.”Site leaders plan on vaccinating a minimum of 360 people each day, giving every last one of them hope that a return to normalcy is right around the corner.“We weren’t able to go to grandma’s house for Thanksgiving, and it was hard because I’m thinking what if this is the year that my grandmother and my grandfather pass away,” said Kendra Lewis, after receiving her vaccine.After learning the vaccine was going to be made available to essential workers, and people with qualifying medical conditions she, like many others, jumped at the opportunity. Levy Gales Jr. has diabetes and says after a year of feeling on edge, he is starting to get some relief.“I was very cautious where I go, only place I go is to the grocery story really,” said Gales Jr. “We haven’t been out socializing, haven’t been around friends. We’ve been really secluded in the house a lot. Now that we have gotten it, it really helps us feel secure and safe.”Anyone age 16 and up with qualifying medical conditions and essential employees are now eligible to start signing up and receive the COVID-19 vaccine. To register for an appointment head to UofL’s website.
UofL Health officials are setting up a three-day pop-up site in Shively, part of their mission to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine to more parts of the community.
The site is being set up in the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, and the plan is to vaccinate a little more than a thousand people.
Councilwoman Keisha Dorsey is helping with the effort, as she stated the virus is disproportionately affecting African Americans. She believes the idea of setting up a site in a city, that has the most Black community members per-capita in the state, is a no-brainer.
“Traditionally through this whole process you’ve seen government officials making decisions,” said Dorsey. “What you haven’t really seen is government officials getting waist-deep, and actually executing those decisions.”
She believes lack of transportation to a site, and not having the technology to sign-up are two of the main factors limiting people from getting the vaccine. So in addition to setting up shop closer to people, Dorsey figured it would be best to go to people’s homes as well.
“We deployed a team to actually go door to door, knocking on people’s doors, and actually physically registering them up,” she said. “Giving them a phone number they could call, and we have received more than 900 calls.”
Site leaders plan on vaccinating a minimum of 360 people each day, giving every last one of them hope that a return to normalcy is right around the corner.
“We weren’t able to go to grandma’s house for Thanksgiving, and it was hard because I’m thinking what if this is the year that my grandmother and my grandfather pass away,” said Kendra Lewis, after receiving her vaccine.
After learning the vaccine was going to be made available to essential workers, and people with qualifying medical conditions she, like many others, jumped at the opportunity. Levy Gales Jr. has diabetes and says after a year of feeling on edge, he is starting to get some relief.
“I was very cautious where I go, only place I go is to the grocery story really,” said Gales Jr. “We haven’t been out socializing, haven’t been around friends. We’ve been really secluded in the house a lot. Now that we have gotten it, it really helps us feel secure and safe.”
Anyone age 16 and up with qualifying medical conditions and essential employees are now eligible to start signing up and receive the COVID-19 vaccine. To register for an appointment head to UofL’s website.
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