The director for the health department in Mingo County says residents have been getting their COVID-19 vaccine shots in Kentucky.
Last week, Governor Justice called out to specific counties with lower registrations about getting more residents registered for the vaccine.
Mingo County Health Department Director Keith Blankenship says the numbers of vaccinations are low because of easy access to vaccine in Ky.
“The numbers the state produces are a little bit skewed for Mingo County,” Blankenship said. “We’re looking at only 10 to 15 percent of the people on a waiting list we’ve collected over the past month or two willing to still take it in W.Va. because they went to Ky. and got it first.”
According to the W.Va. Department of Health and Human Resources online Vaccination Summary dashboard, 3,766 doses of vaccine have been administered in Mingo County. The number of doses are so far underperforming compared to neighboring counties like Logan that has administered over 9,000 doses.
Blankenship said the department called over 300 individuals from waiting lists for a drive-thru vaccination event in Gilbert tomorrow. The health department was unable to get 40 commitments to receive a shot because most respondents have already been vaccinated in Ky.
“My opinion is that the policy is a little more relaxed in Ky.,” Blankenship said.
In W.Va., the public receiving the vaccine must be 65 years of age or older.
Ky. has established 291 injection sights across the Commonwealth with a similar phased in approach.
Mingo County does not require an appointment to receive the vaccine like other counties. Recipients must meet the criteria of 65 or older.
Moreover, Blankenship said the Mingo doesn’t receive enough vaccine.
“Each week,” Blankenship said,” our community planning committee gets 300 doses of primary stock vaccine. ARH (Appalachian Regional Hospital), when they get the vaccines, they pretty much have an open call. We’re seeing anybody and everybody able to get it for the most part.”
The Mingo County Health Department will be hosting a drive thru vaccination event in Gilbert tomorrow (Wed., Feb 24) between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for individuals ages 65 and older.
A second injection site will be at the former Williamson Memorial Hospital in Thursday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
To register for the vaccine in W.Va. call 1-833-734-0965 or visit online https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/Vaccine.aspx
For assistance registering for the vaccine in Ky. call 1-855-598-2246 or visit online https://govstatus.egov.com/kentucky-vaccine-survey