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BY FRED PETKE

Sun reporter

The Clark County Health Department is distributing the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as doses become available and is waiting for more.

CCHD Director Becky Kissick told the Clark County Fiscal Court Wednesday morning staff has administered 500 doses so far, in addition to those given by Clark Regional Medical Center. Kissick said the department received 200 doses Monday and hoped to receive 200 to 300 doses a week.

The first doses, received Dec. 28, were administered within 90 minutes of delivery, she said, including an hour for the vaccine to thaw.

“We continue to push out vaccine as fast as we can,” she said.

At this point, the department is operating under phase 1A guidelines, which authorized vaccines for frontline medical workers and first responders, she said. Phase 1B would allow the vaccine for educators and those 70 and older, she said.

Hopefully, phase 1B could start around Feb. 1, she said.

“We’re also working with Clark Regional Medical Center to begin pushing out those doses for those 70 or older,” Kissick said. In order to vaccinate all of those, Kissick said Clark County would need about 6,600 doses.

At this point, the vaccine is not available to the general public. Those of age can email the health department at clarkhddoc@ky.gov to register for the vaccine when it becomes available, she said, or call the health department. The department’s phone lines, though, have been busy most of the day, she said.

The health department staff is still continuing to do its regular work in addition to administering the vaccines.

“The health department is still doing the health department work,” she said. “However I’ve had to pull staff. Every staff member at the health department has a role in this response. They’ve done it and exceeded every expectation.”