Ava Chuppe
Staff Writer
[email protected]

Gov. Andy Beshear urged Kentuckians to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 against COVID-19 in a Jan. 24 press conference.

This came after Beshear’s 12-year-old son Will tested positive for COVID-19.

Beshear attributed his son’s lack of symptoms to his vaccination status.

“My son is generally asymptomatic. We believe [this is] because he is vaccinated and boosted,” Beshear said. “In fact, he is shooting basketball right now, by himself. The vaccines and booster truly protected him.”

The remaining family members tested negative for the virus, but Beshear said he would continue to be tested daily and follow the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rise of the Omicron variant in schools has prompted concern from the state’s top medical advisers. Currently, only 13.3% of Kentucky children ages 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated.

Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner for the Kentucky Department for Public Health, said about a quarter of new cases reported each day in the state are from children of all ages.

“Vaccination provides assurance that children can remain in school and protected against COVID-19,” Stack said.

Stack said parents who have not yet vaccinated their children should talk with a pediatrician.

“It’s important that you make an informed decision and have confidence that you are taking important steps to keep your children safe from this disease that has caused so much harm to our families and communities,” Stack said.

On Jan. 28, Beshear announced his son tested negative, days after the initial positive test.

“I am so proud of him for taking the precautions to keep everyone he [loves] safe,” Beshear said.

According to a Jan. 28 report from the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the average number of daily cases in Kentucky was about 223 per 100,000 people. Currently, all 120 counties in the state remain in the red zone. 

Stack also said about 2,500 Kentuckians were in the hospital with COVID-19 on Jan. 28, including 446 in intensive care units and 254 on ventilators.

As of today, the Pfizer vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccination authorized for children under 18, while the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are only available for patients 18 and older.

Vaccine appointments for children are available at the Kroger Pharmacy on North 12th Street.

Pfizer vaccines are also available at the Walmart on North 12th Street and at Murray Medical Associates on Eighth Street, but the CDC advises to check appointment availability for these locations.

Children cannot receive the Pfizer vaccine on campus, but the University has partnered with Kentucky Care to provide free walk-up vaccine clinics for students, faculty and staff. 

The clinics are offering first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine, as well as booster doses. Those receiving booster doses need to bring a COVID-19 vaccination card and personal identification.

All vaccine clinics on campus will be held on the first floor of the Curris Center. For a schedule of dates and times, visit murraystate.edu/vaccine.