Long-term care patients and front-line healthcare workers first to receive COVID-19 vaccine

In today's update, Governor Andy Beshear discussed the vaccine, distribution details, and the COVID-19 case numbers. 

Currently, there are two companies with vaccines that are close to distribution: Moderna and Pfizer. In one particular Moderna trial, the Governor noted that for severe cases, the new vaccine was 100 percent effective. Beshear said that another positive outcome concerning the vaccine is that if the vaccine works the way it's supposed to, COVID-19  could be treated as one would treat a cold or flu. 

Kentucky is due to get the first distribution of Pfizer's vaccine mid-December, pending approval. Afterwards, shipments will begin. Moderna's shipment of the vaccine is expected to reach the state as early as two weeks after the Pfizer shipment. Shipments will be limited, therefor, two groups will receive the first doses. 

"We can go ahead and provide everybody with the first of these shots and then we will receive the boosters because the Pfizer vaccine, and Moderna take two separate shots separated by about three weeks," said Beshear. 

After receiving the first shipment of 28,025 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, long-term care patients and staff will be the first to receive the inoculations.  As it stands, approximately two-thirds of the deaths have occurred in long-term care patients. The next group to receive the vaccine will be the front-line healthcare workers. Kentucky expects to receive 76,700 doses from Moderna. All states are expected to give the federal government distribution plans by the end of the week.

Monday's new case numbers for COVID-19 are 2,124 new positive cases, 12 new deaths, and a positivity rate of 9.42%.