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Governor Outlines COVID Booster Recommendations

Falling in line with recommendations by the CDC, Governor Andy Beshear’s administration has laid out the Pfizer booster recommendations for Kentucky. If you have received both rounds of the Pfizer vaccine, you are eligible for a booster shot six months after your second dose if you are:

  • 65 and older;
  • Living in a long-term care facility;
  • 18 to 64 who have a medical condition that increases their risk of severe COVID-19 infection – examples of these include diabetes, heart, kidney or lung disease, or a BMI greater than 25; or
  • 18 to 64 and are likely to get exposed at their place of work – examples of high-risk work environments include health care and education.

“What I want to do is clear up any confusion that’s out there and let you know who can get the boosters,” Beshear said. “If you are eligible, go get them. There are plenty of vaccine doses out there.”
You are also able to get a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28-days after your second shot if you are immunocompromised. That would include people undergoing cancer treatment or taking a high dose of an immunosuppressant.

The Governor also reported during his weekly COVID-19 press briefing on Monday that cases, hospitalizations and the positivity rate are plateauing and beginning to drop.  

Beshear is still concerned with the number of deaths in the Commonwealth due to the virus and the level of cases among younger Kentuckians.

“We are still seeing far too many deaths, and this strain is killing more and more younger Kentuckians, primarily those who are unvaccinated,” Beshear said. “On Saturday, our report included a 39-year-old woman from Bell County. If you’re in your teens, 20s, 30s or 40s – don’t wait. Get vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

Gov. Beshear also said the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services has confirmed five monoclonal antibody injection teams will arrive this week to provide treatment courses for Kentuckians with severe COVID-19.