16 Ky. counties lack pharmacies in HHS vaccine distribution plan

Almost one-third of America's rural counties, including 16 in Kentucky, don't have a pharmacy partnered with a chain or network that's participating in the federal government's coronavirus vaccination program, according to a study by the Rural Policy Research Institute's Center for Rural Health Policy and Analysis.

The study found that 750 of the 1,962 nonmetropolitan counties have no pharmacy listed in the vaccine distribution partnerships of the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services. The Kentucky counties, from west to east, are Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Todd, Breckinridge, Cumberland, Clinton, Owen, Nicholas, Robertson, Fleming, Bath, Menifee and Elliott. According to the study, Cumberland and Robertson counties have no local pharmacy.

HHS said in November the vaccine will be distributed through chains such as Rite Aid, Walgreens, Kroger, Walmart, and independent pharmacy networks such as Good Neighbor Pharmacy. Those locations make up 60% of U.S. pharmacies. HHS said other regional chains and independent pharmacies could be added to increase access to underserved areas.