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COVID Watch: Where should you get your second vaccine dose?

Louisville Courier Journal

The policy requiring Kentuckians to get their second COVID-19 vaccine dose at the same place as their first has changed, but public health experts still say it's best to return to the original location.

"The provider that administered the vaccine is receiving that boost dose," said Connie Mendel, deputy director of the health department, during a Thursday community forum with AARP Kentucky.

She added: "We also understand that people miss appointments and/or they've traveled to get appointments, so it is possible to get your boost dose or your second dose at another provider."

Both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines require a second dose. A person isn't fully vaccinated, and thus able to travel safely and be unmasked around some others, until two weeks have passed from their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or two weeks have passed since their single Johnson & Johnson dose.

"To help fight those COVID variants and get the longevity out of the vaccine," said Mendel, "it is really important to get your second dose." There were 113 variant cases in Kentucky as of Thursday.

Patients should take their vaccine cards with them to second-dose appointments. Eventually, per Mendel, the doses will be in the Kentucky immunization registry, but getting that information entered takes time.

Vaccines for military personnel

The Robley Rex VA Medical Center announced Thursday it would begin offering vaccines to "anyone who served in the military, their caregivers and spouses, and some other beneficiaries."

The expansion was made possible by the SAVE LIVES Act, which covers the following, per Robley Rex:

Anyone who served in the military, including National Guard, Reserves and Coast Guard.
Commissioned members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the U.S. Public Health Service.
Cadets or midshipmen of the U.S. military academies.
Spouses including common-law marriages, widows and widowers, and "Individuals who characterize their relationship as spousal."
Family member or friend who: provides care to a veteran; helps a veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing or dressing; or helps a veteran with shopping or transportation.
Spouses or children of permanently and totally disabled veterans or of veterans who have died from service-connected disabilities.

“Since the start of the pandemic, Robely Rex VAMC has been focused on vaccinating as many Veterans as possible, and we are excited to multiply our efforts thanks to the SAVE LIVES Act,” director Stephen Black said in a statement.

Visit va.gov/covid-19-vaccine or call 502-287-4426 to sign up for an appointment.

Vaccines for the homebound

COVID-19 vaccines may be available at home in some circumstances to individuals who are considered homebound and are not able to get to a local vaccine clinic.

People who are interested should call the Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness helpline at 502-912-8598. The health department will assess the individual's needs and determine the best way to get them vaccinated.

If appropriate, the department will send a nurse to the individual's home to provide the the vaccination.

More:Kentucky COVID-19 vaccine plan: What to know about the coronavirus distribution schedule

Vaccines start Monday at Cardinal Stadium

Monday is the first day to get vaccines at the University of Lousville's Cardinal Stadium at what will be the largest vaccine site in Kentucky, administering up to 4,000 shots a day,

U of L Health will operate the vaccine center in a parking lot south of the football stadium at Floyd Street and Central Avenue.

Anyone 16 or older is eligible for the vaccine. While appointments are recommended, the clinic will take walk-ins.

The clinic will offer the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which is authorized for anyone 16 or older. The two other vaccines currently in use, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, are approved only for those 18 or older.

Those under 18 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian to authorize the vaccination.

The clinic will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, though it will be closed April 30 and May 1 for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby at nearby Churchill Downs.

More information, including how to sign up for appointments, is available on the website at UofLHealth.org. People without internet access may call 502-681-1435.

The vaccinations are free. People should bring a photo ID and insurance card, if they have insurance.

U of L also is seeking volunteers to help at the site, who may sign up through the website.

Get Kentucky COVID-19 information

For people with general questions about COVID-19, such as symptoms, treatment or tests, the Kentucky Poison Control Center is taking calls at 800-722-5725.

For more, see the state's website, govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19, or call the COVID-19 hotline, 800-722-5725 or 502-912-8598. Information on COVID-19 test sites is available on the website.

Information also is available at louisvilleky.gov/government/health-wellness from the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. The department's COVID-19 dashboard is at louisvilleky.gov/covid19.

For information on vaccines, call the state toll-free line at 855-598-2246 or visit the state website at vaccine.ky.gov.

Reach Deborah Yetter at dyetter@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4228. Find her on Twitter at @d_yetter. Reach news reporter Sarah Ladd at sladd@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah.