New survey shows what Kentuckians think about pandemic, vaccines

KENTUCKY, Ky. (WKYT) - We’re learning more about what Kentuckians think about COVID-19 vaccinations with new data from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

This is the fourth time the foundation has conducted polling like this to gauge where Kentuckians are at when it comes to COVID-19 concerns. Right now, the data shows there isn’t a major concern for most people.

The survey shows 57% of people said that they didn’t believe the pandemic was over, but, at the same time, 58% of the people who were surveyed said that they considered the pandemic over in their own lives.

The state’s latest vaccine data shows that 67% of Kentuckians have gotten at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and just over 50% of Kentuckians surveyed said they would very likely get another booster if it was recommended annually like the flu shot.

Ben Chandler with the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky says he thinks that a lot of these are reasonable views, so long as you make sure you’re protected.

“I think, given a lot of the protections, that’s appropriate now for them to do it, but we want to put a fine point on it, and that fine point is it really makes a great deal of difference if you get vaccinated; if you get vaccinated, and if you do the other things, that could protect you,” said Chandler.

Cassie Prather heads the Woodford County Health Department. Woodford ranks second in the state for the highest vaccination rate, but Prather says it’s about more than that.

“Not only is our vaccine rate one of the highest, our death rate is one of the lowest,” said Prather. “COVID’s not new anymore. There are so many therapeutics we have now; testing is widely available. I don’t think we will see an increase quite like we have seen before.”

Prather says her community has taken the message of how to fight COVID to heart and realizes that it’s a continuous battle.

“We’re going to always see waves with all respiratory illnesses, especially in the fall and winter months,” Prather said.