COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Available for Select KY Workers

Keeneland will host a mobile pop-up clinic Feb. 20 to provide COVID-19 vaccines to select individuals who work in the track's stable area and on Central Kentucky horse farms, a track spokesperson said Feb. 18.

The Lexington organization is teaming with the University of Kentucky and other community partners to address access and equality issues with the vaccine. The clinic is targeted to Hispanic or Black workers in the horse industry, with preference to those ages 60 and older, or those under the age of 60 who have health conditions that make them more likely to get sick from COVID-19.

Free COVID-19 testing will also be offered as part of the clinic. Health insurance is not necessary for either a vaccine or test.

The clinic will be held from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. ET at the Keeneland Entertainment Center. Advance registration is required. Walk-up appointments or those not scheduled in advance will not be permitted. Those who receive an initial dose Saturday will need to return about four weeks later to receive the second dose that is required. Individuals may register online, via email, or via phone. An information line with a Spanish language option is available at (859) 562-0838.

REGISTER: Keeneland COVID-19 Vaccine Mobile Clinic

Horsemen and farm managers may access an information sheet translated into Spanish to share with their teams.

The equity and access initiative was announced last week by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. It is in response to obstacles that have prevented individuals with access and equity issues from receiving the vaccine, including groups who are marginalized because of race, language, economic status, and other key factors. 

INFO SHEET: Spanish Version

INFO SHEET: English Version

UK and UK HealthCare will be conducting mobile pop-up clinics and continued community testing at four total sites in Fayette County over successive weekends as part of the initiative. The state Department of Public Health is allocating 500 vaccine doses each weekend for the effort. The clinics will return to those sites at the appropriate dates for booster shots. UK and UK HealthCare will staff the clinics. Clinical staff for the outreach clinics will include physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and medical and pharmacy students from the UK colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy as well as University Health Service.

Non-clinical registration and logistics coordinators and patient educators will include personnel from UK's Office for Student Success and the UK HealthCare Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.

"We know that access and equity for medically underserved communities—and communities of color—continues to be an issue for too many in our region and across the state," said UK president Eli Capilouto. "Addressing that issue requires commitment. It requires partnership. This is a role UK and UK HealthCare, the state, and Lexington—along with partners in faith communities and business—can and must fill. It is part of our mission and who we are for Kentucky."