Rural and conservative congressional districts, in Kentucky and the nation as a whole, have lower coronavirus vaccination rates

Map from Harvard University study; click here for the interactive version.

More conservative and more rural Americans – and Kentuckians – are more likely to remain unvaccinated against the coronavirus, and the divide is growing.

"All but one of the 39 congressional districts where at least 60 percent of residents have received a coronavirus shot are represented by Democrats, according to a Harvard University analysis that presents one of the most detailed looks yet at the partisan split behind the nation’s diverging vaccination drive," Dan Goldberg and Alice Ollstein report for Politico. "By contrast, Republicans represent all but two of the 30 districts where fewer than one-third of residents have received a shot."

The 14 least fully vaccinated districts are all Republican and rural (or have a rural population of at least 40%). Missouri, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates of any state, took the bottom four spots. Appalachian Kentucky's Fifth District shows up 38 spots up from the bottom, with 29.23% of residents fully vaccinated. The state's next most rural district, the First, follows shortly thereafter with 29.82%.

As of June 1, Kentucky's overall vaccination rate was 39.1%, the same as the nationwide average for metropolitan areas; among rural Kentuckians, the rate was 31.4%, just above the national rural average of 31.1%, Tim Murphy and Tim Marema report for The Daily Yonder. The Yonder, which has an interactive map with county-level vaccination data, notes that the nationwide metro vaccination rate is growing more quickly than the rural rate. Three weeks ago, the rural-urban vaccination gap was 7.2 percentage points, but two weeks ago it was 8 points.

The rural-urban gap stems partly from ideological sentiment, but also problems of access. "House members representing districts with low vaccination rates and public health experts, discussing their efforts to reach the unvaccinated, described what essentially has become two distinct conversations," Goldberg and Ollstein report. "One is aimed at chipping away at vaccine hesitancy among conservative white Republicans, while the other is centered around reducing socioeconomic barriers to vaccination for poorer populations and communities of color."

Screenshot from Harvard University study; for a larger version of the image, click on it.

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End of Beshear's Covid-19 press briefings Friday will signal, if not the end of the pandemic, the turning of a page and moving on

Beshear at a briefing the first week of the pandemic, with interpreter

Virginia Moore at left and Health Commissioner Steven Stack at right.

(Photo by Michael Clevenger, Louisville Courier Journal)

Gov. Andy Beshear's regular press conferences about the coronavirus "provided a steady source of information, comforted some people and annoyed others and inadvertently spawned memes, merch and 'Govern Me, Daddy' jokes that caught fire online," writes Morgan Watkins of the Louisville Courier Journal. "But through it all, they also gave a grim, running tally of the virus' death toll in Kentucky. Beshear read out the latest deaths, day after day, and in brief moments those losses choked him up with a grief he didn't hide."

And it's almost over. Beshear says Friday's pandemic press briefing will be his last. It will coincide with the end of the mask mandate he started 11 months ago, but "This is probably the most significant — from a perception point of view — sign that it’s over," said state Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer of Georgetown, one of the Democratic governor's leading Republican critics.

Beshear "started the briefings with two main objectives: to inform Kentuckians how to keep themselves and others safe, and to encourage people to come together and not panic," Watkins reports. He told her, "I think, in the very least, it was an informative, calming collective experience for all of us."

Thayer and Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, a Republican who may run against Beshear in 2023, "contended his briefings served a purpose at first but lasted far longer than they should have," Watkins reports. Quarles "indicated Beshear's talk of unity, exemplified by catchphrases like 'We will get through this together,' gradually grated on some people who were hurt by his executive orders or upset by his lack of cooperation with GOP officials."

"For at least the past half-year, the 'Team Kentucky' rhetoric that you hear every day at the press conferences did not match reality," Quarles said. "Team Kentucky" was the motto of Beshear's 2019 election campaign and will remain the branding device for weekly press conferences to come.

Beshear gave briefings daily at first, prompting reporters to call them "Andy Time," then less frequently. He slowed too late, Thayer said: "He actually became more irrelevant because there was no urgency … There wasn’t news every day. Frankly, he became like the teacher in Charlie Brown’s classroom — just a lot of noise that nobody was really listening to."

Beshear "dismissed the notion that the briefings were politically motivated," Watkins writes, quoting two public-health researchers at the University of Kentucky who gave the governor high marks.

Sarah Vos, a lecturer in the College of Public Health, "indicated Beshear's briefings were pretty effective at providing useful data," Watkins reports. "She said he gave out the latest numbers on coronavirus cases; modeled the behavior he was asking people to adopt, such as mask-wearing; and explained his reasoning for various decisions."

Anna Hoover, a UK public-health professor, said Beshear did the best job of any governor she saw in following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's six principles of crisis and emergency risk communication: Be first; be right; be credible; express empathy; promote action; and show respect.

Hoover said Beshear's events "did an especially good job of expressing empathy by acknowledging the myriad ways people were hurting and the lives lost," Watkins writes. "While Beshear's press conferences generally stayed centered on Covid-19, Hoover noted it wasn't unusual for them to address unrelated topics. (To be fair, sometimes that was because reporters asked about other issues)."

Hoover said, "The further afield the press conferences got from the Covid issues, the focus got a little blurry sometimes. And it also opened those press conferences up to, I think, more criticism from other folks that perhaps they were being used for ways other than public-health information."

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Study finds rural seniors less likely than urban ones to follow Covid-19 prevention advice, especially social distancing

Rural adults 65 and older were less compliant than their urban peers when it came to following some of the suggested strategies to slow the spread of the coronavirus, especially social distancing.

So says a recent study published in The Journal of Rural Health, which looked at whether "community dwelling" seniors (those not living in assisted living, nursing homes or other congregate settings) had adopted preventive measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to slow the spread of the virus.

Following the CDC's advice is especially important for seniors because they have a higher risk of dying from Covid-19 if they get it. 

In Kentucky, 91.4% of all Covid-related deaths were in people 60 and older. And in December, WFPL reported that per-capita cases and deaths were higher in Kentucky's rural counties than its urban ones. 

The study researchers used self-reported data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, conducted from June to October 2020, which asked about eight different risk-mitigation behaviors. The survey included nearly 3,000 community-dwelling urban and rural seniors.  

The researchers found that seniors' compliance with each of the eight behaviors to limit the spread of Covid-19 was high, but rural seniors were less likely to report compliance on five: social distancing, limiting gatherings, avoiding restaurants and bars, not touching their faces, and avoiding contact with those outside their households. 

However, after the data were adjusted for demographic characteristics, only maintaining a six-foot distance remained lower among rural seniors to a statistically significant degree. There were no rural-urban differences when it came to mask wearing, handwashing and limiting shopping.

Still, the researchers said their findings suggested the need for rural-specific messaging when it comes to such public-health emergencies.

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As vaccinations slack off, mutant variants of virus still threaten us

Kentucky Covid-19 vaccinations slacked off considerably last week, falling below 10,000 a day.
Chart of CDC data by The Washington Post, updated with latest 7-day average by Ky. Health News

If you think the pandemic is over, you're wrong; we must still prepare for the worst, because of mutated versions of the coronavirus that can spread quickly among unvaccinated people, retired physician Kevin Kavanagh of Somerset writes for the Louisville Courier Journal.

"Similar to the flu, immunity to last year’s strain does not guarantee immunity to next year’s," Kavanagh writes. "The reinfection may be lessened, but unlike the flu, even a mild to moderate Covid-19 infection is of concern since this virus can have lasting effects on almost every organ of the body."

Think natural immunity from having Covid-19 will help you? It's a matter of degree and time, and neither are known, Kavanagh warns: "No one knows what level of immunity will provide substantial protection for an infection, and even mild to moderate infection of this virus can pose significant harm."

That means even people who have had Covid-19 should get vaccinated, 90 days after their last symptoms, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises. "The plan is to boost your immunity to the wild type (original) virus to a much higher level," Kavanagh explains.

Kevin Kavanagh, M.D.

While currently available vaccines offer varying levels of protection against variants, some do not, Kavanagh notes, quoting Senate testimony from Dr. Anthony Fauci: “In the South African study conducted by Johnson & Johnson, they found that [unvaccinated] people who were infected with wild type were exposed to the variant in South Africa, the 351. It was as if they had never been infected before. They had no protection.”

Last fall, in Brazil, the Amazon River metropolis of Manaus reached 76 percent herd immunity, "but over the winter holidays, the city was crushed again by an even larger wave caused by the P.1 immune escape variant," Kavanagh writes. . . . A recent study of blood donors from Manaus reported to have found that one in six of those infected with the coronavirus were reinfected with the P.1 variant, suggesting reinfections are all too common."

The fewer people who are vaccinated in an area, the better chance it has of becoming a source of a Covid-19 variant outbreak. The relatively low vaccination rates in states south of Kentucky pose such a threat, health experts warn. "We have the knowledge to avoid another devastation by this virus," Kavanagh writes. "Simply, become vaccinated."

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CDC says recent increase in hospitalization of young people for Covid-19 shows need for their age group to get vaccinated

Amy Kreutziger, 14, got a shot in New Orleans in May.
(Photo by Kathleen Flynn, Reuters, via Washington Post)

After decreasing early this year, hospitalizations of adolescents for Covid-19 increased during March and April, illustrating the need for them to get vaccinated against the disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said, “I am deeply concerned by the numbers of hospitalized adolescents and saddened to see the numbers of adolescents who required treatment in intensive care units or mechanical ventilation. . . . “Much of this suffering can be prevented.”

In the 14 states in the study reported Friday, the rate of Covid-19 hospitalization for youth aged 12 through 17 "peaked at 2.1 per 100,000 [residents] in early January 2021, declined to 0.6 in mid-March, and rose to 1.3 in April," CDC reports. Among those who were hospitalized, nearly a third went into intensive care and 5 percent required mechanical ventilation.

"Researchers suggest that the increased hospitalization among adolescents in March and April may be related to several factors, including more transmissible and potentially more dangerous virus variants; larger numbers of youths returning to school; and changes in physical distancing, mask-wearing and other prevention behaviors," The Washington Post reports.

The states in the study were California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah.

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Cameron sues CVS Health, saying that as distributor and retailer it was in a unique position to stop opioid epidemic and didn't

CVS Health is the latest major drug company to face a lawsuit from Kentucky's attorney general, alleging that it was partly responsible for the opioid epidemic.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron filed the suit Wednesday in Franklin Circuit Court. It alleges that the company "failed to guard against the diversion of opioids" to illegal purposes, a Cameron press release said.

“During the height of the opioid epidemic, CVS allowed millions of dosage units of opioids to flood Kentucky’s borders, fueling the crisis and devastating thousands of families and communities,” Cameron said. “As both distributor and pharmacy, CVS was in a unique position to monitor and stop the peddling of these highly addictive drugs from their stores.”

Cameron said CVS accounted for 6 percent of the dosage units of oxycodone and hydrocodone in Kentucky from 2006 to 2014. "One CVS store, located in Perry County, purchased over 6.8 million dosage units of oxycodone and hydrocodone from 2006 to 2014, which was enough opioids for every man, woman, and child in the county to have over 26 pills every year during the same period," the release said. "A CVS in Crittenden County bought over 2.8 million dosage units of the drugs, enough to supply everyone in the county with over 34 pills every year."

The suit says CVS reported no suspicious orders for its Kentucky stores from 2007 to 2014, and worked with other companies such as Purdue Pharma and Endo Pharmaceuticals "in the marketing, advertising, and promotion of opioid products" and "improperly normalized the widespread use of opioids by participating in these efforts."

Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, and other drug companies were sued by Andy Beshear, now governor, when he was attorney general. It and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals are in bankruptcy, and the state's claims against them "are progressing toward resolution later this year," Cameron's release said. It said he continues to pursue suits against Endo, Walgreens and Teva Pharmaceuticals, and is in settlement talks with Johnson & Johnson, McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen.

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Beshear starts incentives to get people vaccinated, including 15 scholarships for students 12-17 and three $1 million drawings

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

As coronavirus vaccination rates in Kentucky keep slowing, Gov. Andy Beshear has announced new lottery-style incentives: $1 million each for three residents who have received at least one dose, and 15 education scholarships for children between the ages of 12 and 17 who have received at least one shot. 

Beshear announces incentives. (Photo by Melissa Patrick)

"We know Covid vaccines are life-saving. And now, for some people, they're going to be life-changing," Beshear said at a Friday news conference in the Capitol rotunda. In Kentucky, the daily number of vaccines given has dropped below 10,000, and the last seven days saw 44% fewer shots than the week before. The New York Times estimates that at the current rate, it will take Kentucky about two months to get 70% of its adults vaccinated with at least one dose. 

Beshear said he expects the incentives will result in a "significant increase" of vaccinations, noting that Ohio's similar $5 million sweepstakes saw a nearly 30% spike in vaccinations after its rollout. 

Statewide, 46.7% of Kentuckians have received at least one shot, 57% of adults have had at least one, and 38.7% are fully vaccinated.

The drawings will be held July 1, July 29 and Aug. 26 and winners will be announced the day after the drawings, on July 2, July 30 and Aug. 27. The last date to enter for each drawing is the day before the drawings.

Beshear said the money for the "Shot At a Million" drawings will come from the federal government's initial coronavirus relief funds.

Entry into the drawings are free and must be completed at shotatamillion.ky.gov, or by calling 855-598-2246 to enter. Once a person enters for a drawing, they will be eligible for all future drawings. 

Entry requires your name, birthdate, email address, phone number, home address and the name and location of your vaccination. Participants must agree to the rules and agree to have their vaccination information verified. 

Entry for the scholarship drawings has additional requirements: a parent or guardian’s name, email address and phone number. The scholarships can be used at a Kentucky public college, university or technical or trade school and will include tuition, room-and-board and books. 

"If you've already gotten your shot, good for you, you're eligible. All you have to do is sign up," Beshear said. "If you haven't gotten your shot, well get it. Protect your family and get qualified for this amazing opportunity." 

Go to vaccine.ky.gov to find a vaccination site. 

Not eligible for the incentives are non-residents of Kentucky; inmates incarcerated for a felony; employees of the governor's office, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority and Kentucky Interactive LLC, and blood relatives, spouses or household members of such employees.

Kentucky Health News asked if there had been talk of offering incentives to counties with low vaccination rates, such as the 21 that are less than 25% fully vaccinated or those along the southern border, where rates are like the low rates in Southern states, putting them at risk of more contagious variants. 

Beshear acknowledged that the lower vaccination rates in Tennessee affect the border counties, and noted that it is important that every county gets the same information about the vaccines. He said in a call with judge-executives this week, the state asked to bring a vaccine mobile unit to all their festivals. 

The governor said offering incentives on a different scale could be an option, and added that local governments could use some of their recent American Rescue Plan Act money for such incentives. 

Eviction Relief Fund: Beshear announced that Lexington will get $11.7 million and Louisville $27 million for their eviction relief programs because they received fewer federal funds for them than expected.

The state got $264 million for its emergency rental assistance program and, working with partners, has processed over $18 million to landlords and utilities on behalf of 2,800 renter households, a news release said. All funds must be spent by Sept. 30, 2025. For more information visit https://teamkyhherf.ky.gov/.

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