As of March 1, 2021, anyone over 60, anyone over 16 that might have any medical or behavioral health conditions, and all essential workers were eligible for Kentucky vaccines.
By the looks of the Kentucky vaccine rollout plan, it seems like everything is moving along swimmingly. However, you’d be shocked to learn that vaccines in one part of Kentucky almost came to a standstill!
Why was Kentucky’s COVID vaccine rollout almost underwater? Read on to find out.
Record-Breaking Flooding
Flooding isn’t something new to the state of Kentucky. Those who live here might recall several significant floods in history, such as the Great Flood of 1937, the Ohio River Flood of March 1945, and the Great Winter Flood of December 1978. More recently, there was flooding in March 1997 and torrential rainfall that caused flooding in May 2010.
But just because these floods happened doesn’t necessarily mean that Kentucky’s prepared for another great disaster.
On February 28, there was heavy rainfall in several parts of the state. And by the next day, a flash flood emergency was declared for those areas. Within 24 hours, residents in the worst parts saw over 5 inches of rain!
The flooding was so bad that 42 out of 120 counties in Kentucky needed water rescues.
Loss of Power
When the heavy rains started coming down Sunday night, this put an enormous strain on the grid. Even when the generators kicked in, by Monday, they were starting to take on water, which threatened to put them out of commission.
Not only did these generators power homes and businesses, but they also powered the Lee County Health Department. This was where many of the COVID vaccines were stored.
With the generators taking on water, the public health officials made a quick decision to move the vaccines elsewhere so they weren’t rendered ineffective.
Moving the COVID Vaccines
The public health officials sent a jon boat to the Lee County Health Department, which carried the local community health nurse. They loaded up the boat with 150 COVID vaccines stored in 2 coolers, in addition to other vital vaccines for children.
The boat went up 500 yards and the vaccines were unloaded into a 4-wheel drive truck. It then drove the load to Wolfe County, where the vaccines were safely stored in their freezer storage.
This whole operation was a success and was even lauded by Kentucky’s Governor Andy Beshear.
Lee County’s COVID Vaccine Rollout Was Saved
Mother Nature tried to slow Kentucky’s COVID vaccine rollout. She sent some brutal rains and flash flooding to many parts of the state. But with some quick thinking and ingenuity, the Kentucky flooding was no issue for the Lee County Health Department.
While the number might seem a little small, you can bet that those 150 COVID vaccines went to good use and may have even saved some lives.
To learn more about what Better Source has to offer, schedule a complimentary consultation now. We’re here to help you save on medical plans for your employees.