Lt. Gov. Coleman urges vaccines in Pikeville, Harlan, Prestonsburg visits

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ/Press Release) –  Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman pushed COVID vaccinations during a swing through Pikeville, Harlan and Prestonsburg in Eastern Kentucky.

Coleman visited Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) to thank the frontline healthcare heroes working to vaccinate the community against COVID-19. She also toured PMC’s drive-thru vaccination area and received a first-hand look at the processes in place designed to efficiently vaccinate PMC’s service area.

During the visit, PMC Vice President of the Board of Directors and CEO, Donovan Blackburn announced the expansion of registration options for COVID-19 vaccinations as PMC began accepting online registrations for the entire 1C group as defined in Kentucky. That’s an estimated 1.5 million people ranging from those over 60 to ones classified as essential workers.

“We have been working diligently with Governor Andy Beshear and Steven Stack, MD, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health to be able to vaccinate as many of our residents as possible,” explained Blackburn.  “Dr. Stack recognized the need for more vaccines in our region and the ability of PMC to administer them.  We are excited to be making this announcement.”

In Kentucky, the 1C category includes anyone 60 and over, anyone age 16 or older with increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 according to the CDC and all essential workers.

Those who fall in the 1C category and live in PMC’s service area preferably in Pike, Floyd, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, or Johnson Counties will be eligible to register at www.pmcvaccine.com for the COVID-19 vaccine.

When scheduling vaccine appointments, priority will still be given to those 60 and over as well as healthcare workers as defined in Kentucky’s 1A group.

“I was honored to visit Pikeville Medical Center and witness many Kentuckians receiving their Shot of Hope. I am so thankful for all the health care workers I met at PMC. They are heroes for the way they are caring for southeast Kentucky during this pandemic,” said Lt. Gov. Coleman. “With an increase in vaccinations, Team Kentucky is turning the corner in the fight against COVID-19.”

“Today’s announcement essentially doubles our regularly scheduled allotment of first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, allowing PMC to increase to nearly five thousand total doses each week,” said Blackburn. “This is a wonderful opportunity PMC has been given, and we are thankful to those who are part of the process in helping our community get healthier and back to a sense of normalcy.”

PMC COVID-19 vaccinations are administered via a drive-thru method at 150 Healthcare Drive Pikeville, KY 41501, between the PMC Administration building and the Landmark Hotel.

“We are working extremely hard to accommodate the demand of people who are registered,” said Blackburn. “We are taking every step to streamline the process and ask that everyone remain patient as we all work through this together.”

She also made stops at facilities in Harlan and Prestonsburg to announce expanded access.

Pikeville Medical Center is 348-bed regional referral center and Kentucky’s only level II trauma center.

PMC offers more than 400 services, including every major specialty and many subspecialties, and features the region’s most advanced medical technology. PMC employs nearly 3,000 people and has nearly 400 credentialed healthcare providers.