Published on April 13, 2021
Lt. Gov. Coleman praises local vaccination efforts
By Christie Netherton, Messenger-Inquirer
Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman praised medical workers and local vaccination efforts Monday after touring Owensboro Health Regional Hospital and its vaccination center.
Coleman visited several Western Kentucky vaccination sites Monday, including OHRH, Mercy Health in Paducah, and T&T Drugs and Community Baptist Church, both in Henderson.
Coleman said her visit has helped her better understand what is happening in the community with the vaccination process.
“That’s why I’m here, is to learn and to know all of the challenges that we’re facing here so that we can do a better job of helping and partnering with local communities to address those challenges,” she said.
Coleman praised OH and the medical community as a whole Monday, describing medical workers as a light at the end of the tunnel for many Kentuckians that have faced a year of anxiety, uncertainty and isolation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For the last year, the medical community has borne the burden of this pandemic and to be able to see … the gratitude that so many of these folks have for the medical community, it’s heartwarming,” she said.
“It speaks to the progress that we’re making all across Kentucky,” she said. “It’s because of places like this that I know that we’re going to get to that number and we’re going to get to that finish line.”
According to Coleman, about 1.6 million people have been vaccinated throughout Kentucky. Once the state reaches 2.5 million, she said Gov. Andy Beshear announced many restrictions will be lifted for businesses and venues that are hot spots for social gatherings, such as bars and restaurants.
“That’s such an incentive, … even if you’ve got your vaccine, to make sure your friends and family do the same,” she said.
Christie Netherton, cnetherton@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7360
About Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; three outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.