LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — First Baptist Church Bracktown became the site of a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday.
The pop-up clinic is part of a University of Kentucky partnership with local community members and governments to provide equitable COVID-19 vaccine access to underserved communities in Lexington.
“If people need vaccines and they can’t get to our Kroger Field site or they don’t trust coming to the Kroger field site, we want to make sure we’re going to them,” said UK Police Chief Joe Monroe.
500 doses of the vaccine were administered on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to those with appointments.
Reverend Rodney McFarland, a senior pastor at the church, said basing the clinic at First Baptist Church Bracktown is helping build trust within communities who may feel skeptical about being vaccinated.
“We have so many messages out there saying don’t get the vaccine,” McFarland said. “So many people have felt reluctant to get the vaccine, but the more of us who do it, the more we can encourage others to do it.”
“We have to save lives by giving these vaccines out. People have to trust the process. They have to trust the science behind it and understand that what we’re trying to do is make sure people stay healthy in Kentucky,” Monroe said.
UK will be hosting the following vaccine clinics in the coming weeks:
- March 6 - Shiloh Baptist Church, 237 E. Fifth Street
- March 13 - Charles Young Community Center, 540 E. Third Street
An appointment is required. Vaccinations will be given at no cost. To register, you can reach out to community leaders at Shiloh Baptist Church and the Charles Young Community Center.
