Less than 32 percent of local population fully vaccinated, CDC says

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

FRANKFORT – More than 1.8 million Kentuckians have received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.

Beshear said Monday that 1,833,652 people in Kentucky had gotten at least one dose of a vaccine, adding that the state had transitioned to the federal COVID-19 vaccination reporting system.

“We’re also going to start showing on our daily report the top five counties with the highest vaccination rates, as well as our bottom five counties by vaccination rate,” Beshear said in a press release. “To our top five counties: Good job. Keep it up. There is still so much more to do. To our bottom five counties: Let’s work even harder because we want everybody to be protected.”

A total of 23,881 residents, or less than 32 percent of the population, have been fully vaccinated in Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin counties, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control.

In Lawrence County, 3,769, or 24.6 percent, have been vaccinated, including 32.2 percent of adults 18 years and older and 55.9 of those 65 and older.

“This is a great start, but it is not even close to achieving herd immunity and getting back to normal,” the Lawrence County Health Department said in an April 28 release, noting that 70 percent of the population needs to receive the vaccination to achieve herd immunity.

In Johnson County, 5,606, or 25.3 percent, have been fully vaccinated, including 32.3 percent 18 and older and 57.2 percent 65 and older.

A total of 11,152 Floyd County residents, or 31.3 percent, have received the vaccination, including 39.9 percent of those 18 and older and 60.6 percent 65 and older.

In Martin County, 3,354 people, or 30 percent, have been vaccinated, including 37.1 percent of those 18 and older and 53 percent of those 65 and older.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in the four counties increased slightly last week, with 92 reported from Tuesday, April 27, through Monday, May 3.

New cases included 22 in Lawrence County, 28 in Johnson County, 36 in Floyd County and six in Martin County.

Lawrence County reported an additional coronavirus-related death on Monday.

Active cases in the four counties on Monday were 27 in Lawrence, 32 in Johnson, 51 in Floyd and 10 in Martin.

Total COVID-19 cases as of Monday included 1,419 in Lawrence County, 2,166 in Johnson County, 3,355 in Floyd County and 1,038 in Martin County.

Lawrence, Johnson and Floyd counties were in the orange on Monday’s COVID-19 incidence rate map, while Martin County was in yellow.

Incidence rates were 18.7 in Lawrence County, 17.4 in Johnson County, 14.9 in Floyd County and 7.7 in Martin County.