Kentucky has vaccinated just under 10-percent of the state’s population in the fight against COVID-19 with 91-percent of the state’s allotment of shots ending up in arms.
Governor Andy Beshear said equity remains a challenge in the distribution of the vaccine.
Nearly 160,000 people 70 and older have received their first vaccine which represents 36-percent of the total given out. That same age group represents 73-percent of the state’s deaths due to the coronavirus.
Over 66,000 people between 40 and 49 have been vaccinated which is 15-percent of the total although that age group represents 1.6-percent of the deaths. Beshear said that was due to the number of teachers and first responders vaccinated as part of group 1B.
People in the 60 to 69 age group represent 17-percent of the state’s deaths and only 12-percent of those vaccinated, lower than any age group except 30 and under.
Demographic data showed 64-percent of those vaccinated are females and only 4.3-percent are African-Americans. The African-American population comprises eight-percent of the state’s population and eight-percent of the state’s COVID-19 deaths.
A December study by the NAACP and COVID Collaborative revealed that just 14 percent of Black Americans said they have trust in the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Beshear said the state is working with Black community faith leaders to encourage minority citizens who are hesitant to get the vaccine.
