Baptist Health System administers over 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines

The Evening News and the Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind.
·2 min read

Feb. 26—LOUISVILLE — Baptist Health has reached a major milestone — administering more than 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine (and counting) to patients in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The four hospitals in the Kentuckiana Region — Baptist Health Louisville, Baptist Health Floyd, Baptist Health Hardin and Baptist Health La Grange — accounted for more than 50,000 of those doses.

Baptist Health hospitals hit the 100,000 mark in just 71 days — administering their first shots on Dec. 14, 2020, and reaching the milestone on Feb. 23. Of the 100,826 doses given, 64,730 were first doses and 36,096 were second doses.

Baptist Health Floyd has played a big role in the process. As of Friday morning, the hospital had administered 21,924 doses.

The first doses at Baptist Health Floyd were administered Dec. 17. The hospital, which uses a drive-through clinic, administered its 20,000th vaccine Feb. 20, averaging a shot about every two minutes.

"Administering the vaccine has been a logistical challenge — working with two states with different vaccine rollout plans and coordinating the efforts of nine hospitals — but one that we were well equipped to tackle," said Baptist Health system COO Patrick Falvey. "We also invested some $300,000 in purchasing ultra-cold freezers capable of holding nearly a million doses to ensure we were prepared to administer the Pfizer vaccine which was the first approved for emergency use."

Those who have been vaccinated are encouraged to continue to practice prevention measures including wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, keeping your distance from those who don't live with you and staying home when you're sick.

For more information, go to BaptistHealth.com/vaccine. Learn more about the vaccination process in Indiana at ourshot.in.gov. Currently in Indiana, those 60 and older are eligible for the vaccine.