Cady Stribling
News Editor
cstribling1@murraystate.edu
Murray State will become a regional COVID-19 vaccination site for the coming months, according to a press release by the University.
The CFSB Center will become a regional site, Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Thursday, Feb. 4. Murray State is one of four new location sites in Kentucky.
The CFSB Center will begin to give out the vaccine on Wednesday, Feb. 10, and Feb. 17, from 8 a.m. to noon on both days, according to the press release. Chief medical officer Bob Hughes said these two dates will be for those weeks and is subject to change based on the size of the vaccine shipments.
Sign up for the vaccination through the Calloway County Health Department at callowayhealth.org or call (270) 753-3381 for more information on how to get an appointment.
Vaccination sites will prioritize phase 1B starting on Monday, Feb. 1, which is first responders, people 70 and older and K-12 personnel. People in phase 1A can still get the vaccine.
“All will be treated the same coordinated by the health department list,” Hughes said. “Class priorities will be determined and timed by the Public Health Commissioner Dr. [Steven] Stack in Frankfort.”
According to a Murray State email, the Calloway County Health Department will reach out to people to schedule a vaccine time. They will be by appointment only and no walk-ins will be allowed.
To ensure vaccination sites administer 90 percent or more of received doses within seven days of arrival, people in phase 1C can schedule available appointments if vaccine quantities and appointment times allow, according to the press release.
Hughes said the Murray State nursing department, the Calloway County Health Department, the Murray-Calloway County Hospital and Village Medical Primary Care will partner in distributing the vaccine.
“The state will distribute the vaccine to the health department, which will then make its way to the vaccination center,” Hughes said. “We will start at 800 per day and can go quickly to 1,600 per day.”
President Bob Jackson said the University is pleased to distribute the vaccines.
“Murray State University is very pleased to assist the commonwealth and Gov. Beshear as a regional COVID-19 vaccination site,” Jackson said in the press release. “We have excellent facilities, dedicated people and an important duty to help with delivering vaccinations to this region in partnership with the Calloway County Health Department, Murray Calloway County Hospital, Murray State Health Services, and many others in the Jackson Purchase as we work to end this pandemic.”