WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC THE REBOUND FROM COVID-19.

KENTUCKY IS GRADUALLY RETURNING TO NORMAL FROM THE COVID PANDEM THE VACCINATED NO LONGER NEED T WEAR MASKS IN MOST PUBLIC PLACES, AND ON FRIDAY THE STATE WILL DROP CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS IN RESTAURANTS, BARS AND MANY OTHER PUBLIC GATHERING PLACES.

AND ON THURSDAY THE KENTUCKY UP THE DAY BEFORE THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS ABOUT GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND STATE LEGISLATION RESTRICTING HIS POWERS TO ISSUE THOSE ORDERS.

SO HOW EFFECTIVE WAS KENTUCKY'S RESPONSE TO THE pandemic?

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?

AND WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LEARN AHEAD?

TO DISCUSS THIS WE ARE JOINED OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO BY STATE SENATOR RALPH ALVARADO, A REPUBLICAN FROM WINCHESTER, CHAIR OF THE SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE, AND A PHYSIC STATE SENATOR REGINALD THOMAS, LEXINGTON DEMOCRAT, MINORITY CAUCUS CHAIR, AND AN ATTORNEY.

AND DR.

ARTICLE MONTGOMERY-YATES, U.K. HEALTHCARE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR INPATIENT, EMERGENCY AND CORE SERVICES JOINING US IN OURE STUDIO: DR. PAUL McKinney, PROFESSOR AND ASSOCIATE DEAN IN THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND MEMBER OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO VACCINATION TASK FORCE.

AND JOINING US BY SKYPE, DR. AYORINDE MEDAIYESE, CRITICAL CARE AND PULMONOLOGIST SPECIALIST AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT PIKEVILLE MEDICAL CENTER.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

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THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE NEAR AND FAR.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.

AND I'M GOING TO START WITH DR. MCKINNEY WHO IS IN OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO AND I'M JUST GOING TO ASK A VERY BASIC QUESTION.

IS COVID-19 OVER?

>> WELL, I THINK ALL OF US WOULD LIKE THOUSAND THAT IT INDEED IS OVER, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT IT'S NOT YET, AND IT WON'T BE OVER UNTIL REALLY ALL OF THE OUTBREAKS ARE CONTROLLED AROUND THE WORLD, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS, OF COURSE, AS THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO CIRCULATE, IT WILL MUTATE AND THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL CHANCE THAT MUTANTS WILL BECOME RESISTANT FROM THE VACCINES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST.

IF THAT HAPPENS, OF COURSE, WE'RE OPEN TO ADDITIONAL SURGES.

SO I THINK IT WILL BE OVER IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT PUT, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A FIRM GRASP ON WHEN THAT WILL BE YET, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE U.S., THAT EFFORTS PROCEED IN THE REST OF THE WORLD TO CONTROL RESURGENT DISEASE AS WELL.

>> YOU HAVE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CDC, PART OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH THE CDC, AND I'M CURIOUS IF YOU THOUGHT THE CDC GUIDANCE THAT THEY ISSUED OVER A MONTH AGO WAS THE TIMING WAS RIGHT FOR THAT AND THEN THE EASTING EASING OF RESTRICTIONS BY KENTUCKY GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DO YOU THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT CALL?

OR DO YOU THINK IT WAS TOO SLOW?

>> I THINK THAT THE TIMING WAS APPROXIMATELY CORRECT ANYWAY, PRETTY CLOSE, ALTHOUGH THE NOTICE WAS VERY SHORT FOR MANY PEOPLE, LIKE FOR BUSINESSES, FOR EXAMPLE.

MANY DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO REACT IN THE SHORT TERM.

THEY WERE TAKEN BY SURPRISE.

WE WERE TAKEN A LITTLE BIT BY SURPRISE BECAUSE THAT ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT MASKS, THE REQUIREMENT FOR MASKS BEING WITHDRAWN WAS NOT ACTUALLY DISCUSSED WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

WE DEAL WITH IMMUNIZATION ISSUES.

WE DON'T DEAL DIRECTLY WALL SORTS OF POLICY ISSUES.

SO A LITTLE BIT OF ADVANCE NOTICE I THINK FOR MANY GROUPS WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL SO THEY COULD SMOOTHLY ROLL OUT THAT POLICY.

>> WE'RE SEEING SOME NODS IN THE LEXINGTON STUDIO ON THAT, DR. MCKINNEYY.

A LITTLE HEADS-UP, DR. MONTGOMERY-YATES, WOULD HAVE BEEN APPRECIATED.

I JUST WANT TO RUN THROUGH A GALLUP POLL RELEASED TODAY.

FEWER AMERICANS ARE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WEAR MASKS.

THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL UPDATED ITS GUIDANCE MASK.

22% OF AMERICANS ARE NOT DISASTERRING FROM NON-HOUSEHOLD PEOPLE WHICH IS DOWN FROM 40s% IN APRIL AND 38% IN JANUARY.

AND 40% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY WERE ISOLATING PARTIALLY OR A LITTLE AND 38%, THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE TO DATE, SAID THEY WEREN'T SOCIAL DISTANCING AT ALL.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS?

DO YOU THINK THAT THE RESTRICTIONS AND IF EASING OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS ILL-TIMED OR RIGHT ON TIME?

>> SO I THINK BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THE VIRUS AND THE VACCINE AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS, I THINK THEY WERE PROBABLY CLOSE TO RIGHT.

I THINK IT WAS TIME TO BEGIN TO EASE SOME OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS.

I AGREE THAT THE RAPIDITY WITH WHICH THEY WERE ROLLED OUT DID CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF CON FUGUE IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE STATEMENTS AND FOLKS JUST DIDN'T KNOW, SHOULD I WEAR A MASK, SHOULD I NOT, AND I THINK, TOO, AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE END OF THIS EPIDEMIC, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE STILL DON'T HAVE EVERYBODY VACCINATED, AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO IS VACCINATED AND WHO IS NOT.

AND WE STILL AREN'T VACCINATING THE VERY YOUNG.

NOW, THOSE PEOPLE, THE KIDS DON'T GET SICK, RIGHT?

BUT THEY STILL CAN TRANSMIT HAD TO PEOPLE AND THEY STILL ARE A GROUP THAT WE NEED TO GET VACCINATED, AND MANY OF US HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN IN OUR HOUSEHOLD WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED, AND SO IT ALSO THEN BECOMES A CONFLICT OF HOW DO YOU DO THAT WITH YOUR KIDS.

HOW DO YOU GO OUT WITH YOUR KIDS TO THE GROCERY AND SAY YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK BUT YOU DO NOT BECAUSE I'M VACCINATED AND YOU'RE NOT.

AND KEEP THE REST OF SOCIETY SAFE.

SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT WE STILL AS A GROUP HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AS A SOCIETIES, HOW ARE WE GOING DEEP OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, THE IMMUNE SUPPRESSED, OUR CHILDREN, THOSE WHO ARE NOT BEEN VACCINATED OR CHILDREN SAFE, WHILE RESPECTING THE FACT THAT WE ALL WANT THIS TO BE OVER.

WE WANT TO BE NORMAL.

I DON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE.

I THINK THAT BALANCE IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IN THE MONTHS TO COME.

>> DR. AO PIKEVILLE MEDICAL CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR THESE TECHNICAL MEANS THAT CAN BRINGS TOGETHER.

I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE THE CONDITION IN EASTERN KENTUCKY CASES ARE DOWN TODAY.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES IN KENTUCKY, 460,520.

TOTAL DEATHS A LITTLE OVER 7,000, AND THE POSITIVITY RATE STATEWIDE IS 2.28% AS OF THIS AFTERNOON.

WHAT'S THE EXPERIENCE LIKE IN PIKEVILLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE VIRUS SPREAD AND EVEN THE VACCINATION RATES?

IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

>> YEAH, WE'VE HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE CURVE LINE OF THE VIRUS IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS ESPECIALLY.

THE RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION IS SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN.

WE DO HAVE DATA, HOW MANY ICU ADMISSIONS, AND FROM THE MOST EVENT DATA WE USED TO HAVE 900 ADMISSIONS OF PATIENTS BEING ADMIT TO THE HOSPITAL.

THE LAST TIME I HAD DATA, THAT HAS BEEN -- [INDECIPHERABLE] 20 ICU PATIENTS ON VENTILATION.

WE'RE DOWN TO TWO OR THREE PATIENTS, ONE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IS MOST OF THE PATIENTS, IF NOT ALL, THAT WE DO A LITTLE BIT OF OF WORK TO FIND OUT IF THEY ARE VACCINATED OR NOT, AND I'LL TELL YOU 99% OF PATIENTS SEEN IN PIKEVILLE MEDICAL CENTER ARE NOT, NOT VACCINATED.

WE ARE DOING VACCINATION.

[INDECIPHERABLE] 44,400.

FIRST DOSES WITH 22,700 -- 22,000.

SO WE'VE DONE VERY WELL FOR THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF VACCINATION.

OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE SEEING A DROP NOVATO VACCINATION RATE.

WE ARE HOPING THAT THAT ROUNDS UP.

WE ARE DOING ALL KINDS OF PLANS AND INCENTIVES TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYEES AND ALSO -- INCREASE THEIR VACCINATION.

SO IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FACT THAT OUR HOSPITALIZATION HAS SIGNIFICANTLY DROPPED.

THE RATES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY DROPPED.

[INDECIPHERABLE] THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE HAD HAVE WE HAVE MADE.

>> AND SO I HOPE OUR AUDIENCE WILL JUST BEAR WITH US.

SOMETIMES THE AUDIO ISN'T SEAMLESS SO WE ARE GETTING THE GIST OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US.

AND THE MAIN TAKEAWAY IS THAT VACCINATION, VACCINATION, VACCINATION.

IT COMMENTS DOWN TO ONE WORD.

SENATOR AND DR. RALPH ALVARADO, YOUR TAKE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE VIRUS.

IS IT OVER IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

THEN I WANT THE MOVE PARTICULARLY THE LEGISLATORS TO TALK ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT CASE, TOO, THAT ARE COMING UP BUFFS ON THURSDAY, A DAY BEFORE THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE SET TO EXPIRE.

SO YOU'RE EVER YOUR OVERALL TAKE WAY ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE AND THE KENTUCKY RESPONSE.

>> YEAH, SO AS FAR AS THE QUESTION OF COVID, IT'S OVER, COVID ANNIVERSARY GOING TO BE OVER.

HATE TO SAY IT.

CORONAVIRUS HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE I'VE BEEN AT LEAST A MEDICAL STUDENT.

IT'S BEEN AROUND FOREVER.

IT'S USUALLY THE COMMON COLD BUT THIS VIRUS OBVIOUSLY IS A NOVEL VIRUS, ROUGH.

WE KNOW WHAT IT'S DONE TO THE WORLD EFFECTIVELY.

WE'RE GETTING SOME INFORMATION NOW THAT THE WORRIES NOW OF THIS THING WAS MANUFACTURED OF SOME SORT OF OUTER A LAB.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE LEARNING THE DETAILS THAT IS VERY CONCERNING.

IF THAT'S THE CASE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT IS GOING THE WORLD A DEBT FOR HAVING DONE WHAT IT'S DONE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

BUT COVID IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SIGHT JUST LIKE INFLUENZA.

WE HAVE NUNE OUTBREAKS EVERY YEAR.

PEOPLE DIE.

YOUNG PEOPLE DIE.

OLDER PEOPLE DIE FROM THAT.

I KNOW PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE DIED WHO DON'T GET VACCINATED.

WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINES EVERY YEAR.

PEOPLE PUT THAT IN THE BACKGROUND AND SAY, AWE, IT'S THE FLU.

IT'S DISMISSED.

WE DON'T HAVE GREAT VACCINE RATES WHEN IT COMES TO INFLUENZA.

I THINK IN THE NEAR FUTURE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY HEY, GO GET YOUR FLU SHOT AND GET YOUR COVID BOOSTERS.

>> AT THE SAME TIME?

>> IT IT DEPENDS ON HOW QUICKLY THIS THING MUTATES.

WE'RE SEEING MUTATIONS OF VARIANTS ACROSS THE WORLD.

SO AS YOU STARTED SEEING MORE VARIANTS COME THROUGH, THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE PEOPLE EXPOSED TO THAT AND OUTBREAKS AND THE VACCINES SEEM TO COVER THE VARIANTS BUT AT SOME POINT IF IT MUTATES WHERE THINK DON'T, YOU MAY HAVE TO REQUIRE A BOOSTERS FOR THAT.

IT'S A NEW VIRUS.

ANY TIME YOU HAVE SOMETHING NEW, WE HAVE TO LAY DOWN A LOT OF DATA AND LEARN FROM THAT AS BEING FORWARD BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.

I DON'T THINK COVID IS GOING AWAY.

PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT THE MARKED OUTBREAKS GO DOWN BUT YOU'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE INFECTIONS AND RISKS FOR PEOPLE OUT THERE.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF OUR OLDER POPULATION THAT HASN'T GOTTEN VACCINATED.

TRY TO REMIND THEM IF THEY THINK WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THAT MANY VACCINATIONS I MAY GO OUT, THEY MAY STILL PICK THIS UP AND HAVE A REALLY BAD OUTCOME, AND WE KNOW THAT OUR ELDERLY POPULATION IN PARTICULAR HAVE A HIGH RATE OF DEATH AND A HIGH RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION AND SERIOUS ILLNESS AND COMPLICATIONS FROM IT.

YES THINK IT'S EVER GOING TO GO AWAY FILM IT'S HERE TO STAY.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE AS A SOCIETY THE QUICKER WE CAN GET THIS REDUCED AND TAMP IT DOWN SO WE DON'T HAVE VARIANTS THAT WOULD BE NICE BUT WE'RE GOING SEE THIS MUTATE GOING FORWARD.

>> THAT'S HOW VIRUSES WORK.

DR. MONTGOMERY, IT HAS A PLACE TO LIVE AND THRIVE NO MATTER WHAT YOU TRY TO GET IT MITIGATED, THERE'S STILL A POSSIBILITY IT'S GOING THE RESURGE.

>> ALL VIRUSES MEW AT A TIME.

THIS IS THE HISTORY OF VIRUSES FOR THE LAST MILLION YEARS.

INFLUENZA VIRUS HAS MUTATED.

THE CORONAVIRUS MUTATED FROM THE COMMON COLD INTO THIS VIRUS THAT THEN COULD CAUSE LUNG INJURY WHICH IS THE MAJORITIES OF WHAT PEOPLE WERE DYING FROM, WAS THE LUNG COMPONENTS OF THE VIRUS.

IT MAY MUTATE AGAIN.

IT MAY BECOME LESS VIRULENT, IT MAY MUTATE AND BECOME MORE.

AT THIS POINT MOST OF THE VARIANTS COVERED BY THE VACCINE SO WHAT I WOULD TELL PEOPLE IS WE HAVE THIS MARVELOUS, BEAUTIFUL VACCINE THAT WAS CREATED THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE EVERYONE'S LIVES BACK TO NORMAL, AND WE NEED IS FOR THEM TO GO GET UP YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE FLU AND THE INFLUENZA.

>> TOGETHER.

>> SO SEVERAL EVER SEVERAL OF THE TRUCK COMPANIES ARE ACTUALLY WORKING NOW ON COMBOS THAT ARE THE MRNA.

HISTORICALLY THAT'S NOT HOW BEAV DONE THE INFLUENZA VIRUS BUT THE COVID VIRUS, THE VACCINE HAS BEEN SO EFFICIENT THAT MANY OF THE COMPANIES ARE WORKING ON A COMBO INFLUENZA/COVID 'ZINE THAT WOULD BE MRNA.

SO YOU COULD GO IN THE FALL LIKE YOU GO IN & GET YOUR STORMWATER INOCULATION TO TAKE CARE OF COVID AND INFLUENZA IN THE WINTER.

>> TO THE DOCTOR'S POINT PEOPLE ARE OFFER FEARFUL OF A NEW VACCINATION AND THE NEW STYLE WHICH ARE THE MESSENGER VACCINES.

THIS IS NOT TOTALLY NOVEL.

WE'VE BEEN RESEARCHING FOR THERE ARE DECADES.

THE SCIENTIST BEHIND THIS WAS A HUNGARIAN SCIENTIST.

SHE FLED COMMUNIST HUNDRED GAR WELL THEY ARE FAMILY.

I THINK HER HUSBAND AND CHILD AND $1,500 STUFFED IN A TEDDY BEAR IS THE STORY.

CAME THE TO UNITED STATES, CONTINUED THAT RESEARCH.

FOR A LONG TIME I THINK PEOPLE THOUGHT THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN GET THIS ANTIBODIES TO GET THIS RESPONSE.

NOW, I MEAN,WORK ON A LIFELONG PROJECT AND IT'S THE SOLUTION TO THE WORLD FOR THIS.

SO PEOPLE WILL WATCH A LOT OF VIDEOS ON FACEBOOK OR SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIFFERENT THINGS AND THINK THIS IS SOMEHOW GOING INJECT CHIPS OR IT'S GOING TO RERANGE MY DNA.

IT'S NOT.

IT'S JUST USING A CODE TELLING YOUR CELLS TO MAKE A PROTEIN THAT'S GOING TO BE PRODUCING THE ANTIBODY THAT'S GOING TO HELP SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES OR IF YOU DO GET THE INFECTION IT WON'T NECESSARILY PREVENT IT.

IT WILL MITIGATE THE RESPONSE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO PUT NUT HOSPITAL, NOT MAKE YOU DEATH ILL AND HELP YOU TO FIGHT THE INFECTION BIPARTISAN SAFE.

I HOPE EVERYONE HOSE AT HOME WATCHING, PLEASE GET YOUR VACCINE IF YOU CAN GET.

IT HOME PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD RIGHT NOW ARE SUFFERING OUTBREAK GOOD MORNING VACCINATIONS.

WE HAVE THAT AVAILABILITY IN UNITED STATES.

GO GET IT IF YOU CAN.

>> BEFORE TOYING SENATOR THOMAS I WANT TO GO TO DR. MCKINNEY NECESSITY LOUISVILLE AND HAVE YOU CHIME IN ON THIS DISCUSSION US BY A SERVED ON THE LOUISVILLE METRO VACCINATION TASK COURSE, AND I KNOW YOU CAN SPEAK HIGHLY OF THE NEED FOR MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO BECOME VACCINATED.

WE'RE OVER 2 MILLION BUT THE GOAL IS THE 2.5 MILLION AND THAT'S OUT OF A POPULATION OF 4.3 MILLION, WE'RE STILL NOT GETTING TO HERD IMMUNITY, I DON'T THINK.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT GOAL?

IS THERE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE THAT WE MUST GET OF NOT JUST THE OVERALL POPULATION BUT THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES AS WELL TO OFFER WIRED PROTECTION AGAINST COVID?

>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS YOU GET AS HIGH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN IN TERMS OF PERCENT COVERAGE OF THE POPULATION.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN HERD MUTANT WILL BE REACHED.

IT'S NOT BEEN DEFINED FOR THIS PARTICULAR CORONAVIRUS.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT'S SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF WHERE WE PROJECT TO BE, THAT IS PROBABLY IN THE 70 US.

PERCENT RANGE, MAYBE 75, MAYBE 80 PERCENT.

DIFFICULT TO PREDICT.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THE TRANSMATION RATE IS ALREADY SLOWING QUITE DRAMATICALLY.

I THINK IF WE WENT UP 10 POINTS, 15 POINTS, 20 POINTS FROM WHERE WE ARE AT THE CURRENT TIME, IT WOULD REALLY SUPPRESS THE VIRUS EVEN MORE DRAMATICALLY AND GET NUMBERS DOWN TO A VERY SMALL INCIDENCE RATE THAT MAY EVEN ALLOW US TO EVENTUALLY ESCAPE THE EFFECTIVE OF THE VIRUS.

BUT THE OTHER POSITIVITY, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY THE OTHER GUESTS, THAT THE VIRUS COULD SIMPLY BECOME LIKE FLU AND CONTINUE TO BE TRANSMITTED AT A LOW LEVEL IN EVERY SEASON, EVEN FLU VIRUSES TRANSMITTED IN THE SUMMER AT VERY LOW RATES.

IT'S SORT OF BEHIND THE SCENES BUT SMOULDER OUT THERE AND RESURGE TO A SLIGHT DEGREE IN THE FALL.

IF THAT HAPPENS, I AGREE THAT HAVING A COMBINATION VACCINE IS EXTREMELY DESIRABLE.

MODERNA HAS ALREADY SAID THEY'RE WORKING ON AN IRAN VACCINE RNA VACCINE THAT INCORPORATES PROTECTION FOR BOTH CORONAVIRUS AND FLU VIRUS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DATA TO SEE HOW IT WORKS.

BUT BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR, THE RNA TECHNOLOGY IS TREMENDOUS, AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED THAT IT WOULD WORK THIS WELL AND BE QUITE ASTOUNDING IN TERMS OF THE PROTECTION IT PROVIDES, AND WE DO NEED TO ENCOURAGE IT EVERYWHERE WE POSSIBLY CAN TO CONTROL THE VIRUS TRANSMISSION.

>> MANY PEOPLE, AND IT ALSO CAN RELATE TO SOME VACCINE HESS TENANTS, ARE ALSO CONCERNED, SENATOR THOMAS, ABOUT THE FAST TRACK NATURE OF GETTING THESE VACCINES ON THE MARKET, WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY EXPONENTIALLY FASTER THAN THE NORMAL DEPLOYMENT RATE FOR VACCINES.

BUT I WANT TO COME TO YOU NOW BECAUSE I WANTED THE PHYSICIANS TO TAKE UP THE FIRST PART OF THE PROGRAM TO REALLY GIVE US THEIR PERSPECTIVE, BUT AS A LEGISLATOR, I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS WEEK BEING SOMEWHATPI HAVE PIVOTAL IN HOW -- AND GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S ORDERS AND THE LEGISLATION FOUR BILLS THAT CHALLENGE THOSE AND NOW THE SUPREME COURT, KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT WILL MAKE A DECISION NOT ON THURSDAY BUT THEY WILL HEAR THOSE ORAL ARGUMENTS.

AND THEN THE VERY NEXT DAY THEY EXPIRE.

SO THE FIRST QUESTION TO YOU AS AN ATTORNEY, IS IT ALL MUTE THAT THE SUPREME COURT EVEN HEAR THESE ARGUMENTS WHEN THE VERY NEXT DAY ALL OF THESE RESTRICTIONS EXPIRE?

>> RENEE, IT'S NOT MOOT.

FRANKLY, I LIKE THE WAY YOU BEGAN THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WHAT YOU DID IN ADDRESSING THE CENTRAL QUESTION YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING, IS THIS VIRUS OVER?

YOU WENT AND SPOKE TO THE SCIENTISTS.

YOU SPOKE TO ALL THE MEDICAL EXPERTS WHO HAVE RESEARCHED THIS VIRUS, WHO HAVE STUDIED THIS VIRUS, WHO KNOW IT WELL.

NOW, GIVEN THE WAY THAT YOU FOLKS ON THE SCIENCE FIRST, LET'S GO BACK NOW 15 MONTHS WHEN THIS VIRUS FIRST HIT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EARLY MARCH.

THAT'S WHAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR DID.

HE LISTENED TO THE SCIENCE.

HE LISTENED TO THE RESEARCHERS.

HE LISTENED TO THOSE WHO KNEW, WHO WERE SAYING, HEY, WE NEED TO SLOW THINGS DOWN.

WE NEED TO STOP THE SPREAD.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T CONGREGATE.

IS ON HE CLOSED SCHOOLS.

IS ON HE CLOSED BUSINESSES WHERE YOU HAD PEOPLE GATHERING LIKE RESTAURANTS AND BARS.

HE CLOSED FACILITIES WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GATHER SO THAT HE COULD FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

OKAY?

AND AS A POINTED AS I POINTED OUT MANY TIMES ON YOUR SHOW AND THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, HIS MEMBERS OF THE SCIENCE WORKED BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT EYES HIS PEER GROUP, ALL THE SOUTHERN GOVERNORS, KENTUCKY HAD THE THIRD FEWEST DEATHS OF ANY SOUTHERN STATE.

THAT'S HIS PEER GROUP.

SO HE DID VERY WELL.

NOW YOU HEARD DR. MCKINNEY TALK ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINES OUT.

RET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT AS OF TODAY, RENEE, FOR YOUR VIEWERS.

AS OF TODAY, KENTUCKY RANKS 14th AMONG ALL STATES, AMONG ALL STATES IN TERMS OF GETTING DOSES OUT.

WE'RE AT 85% OF ALL STATES -- THIS IS -- >> OF GETTING DOSES OUT, BUT ARE THOSE SHOTS IN ARMS?

>> SHOTS IN ARMS.

BEAV GOT 4.3 MILLION DOSES THAT'S BEEN DELIVERED TO US.

370MILLION OF THOSE ARE IN ARMS, RENEE.

WE'RE AT 85%.

WE'RE 14th IN THE COUNTRY.

AND VIRGINIA IS THE ONLY SOUTHERN STATE BETTER THAN US.

SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, GOING TO YOUR QUESTION YOU ASKED ME, IS WHAT DO I THINK ABOUT THE CASE ON THURSDAY, I THINK THE LEGISLATURE REALLY MISSED THE MARK BY SAYING WE'RE GOING TO TIE GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S HANDS WHEN HE WANTS TO ISSUE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

WE'RE GOING TO TIE GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S HANDS IN TERPS OF THE-S THOUGH THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

WE'RE GOING TO TIE HIS HANDS IN TEMPERATURES WHAT TYPE OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS HE ISSUES BECAUSE WHAT HE WAS DOING WORKED.

HE SAVED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES OF KENTUCKY.

NOW, THEY MAY HAVE NOT LIKED THE BUT YOU CAN'T QUESTION THE RESULTS.

AND SO, YES, IT DOES MATTER WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DECIDES ON THURSDAY.

>> A DECISION MAY NOT COME FOR A FEW MONTHS.

>> I HOPE.

I HOPE THEY DO DECIDE THAT WE OVERREACHED AS A LEGISLATURE IN PASSING SENATE BILL 1 AND SENATE BILL 2 AND HOUSE BILL 1 BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

>> I WANT TO ASK SENATOR ALVARADO, DO YOU THINK IT WAS A OVERREACH THOSE MEASURES FOUR OF AND ON US LITTLE 177.

SENATE BILL 1 AND SENATE BILL 2?

>> NO, I DON'T.

I NEED TO CORRECT SOME OF THE DATA.

BROUGHT SOME OF THE DATA FOR KENTUCKY STATE SNOOP HIS.

THERE'S SYKES.COM.

IT GIVES THE ACTUAL TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE, PEOPLE THAT ARE FULLY VACCINATED RIGHT NOW IN KENTUCKY.

IT'S 38% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION SO IT'S NOT AN 85 VACCINATION RATE.

IT'S 38%.

CURRENT COVID RESPONSE WE'RE RANKED VERY, VERY LOW NATIONALLY AS OF RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THE EARLY RESPONSE I THINK FROM THE GOVERNOR WAS GOOD AND I THINK WE HE DID THINGS WELL FROM THE BEGINNING LIFE.

UNKNOWNS THAT WERE OUT THERE.

AND I THINK ANY TIME HAVE AN UNKNOWN VIRUS, AN UNKNOWN INFECTION PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE CERTAINTY AND REASSURANCES.

EVERYBODY PRAISED THE GOVERNOR FOR THE INITIAL RESPONSE.

ONE OF THE WE GOT INTO MAY OR JUNE AND STARTED REALIZING WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH PEOPLE STEAD HOW COME THESE RULERS?

FIRST IT WAS FLATTEN THE CURVE OUT.

THEN GOALPOSTS STARTED TO CHANGE PAY LOFTY THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE DIFFERENTLY.

CLOSING SCHOOLS IS ONE EXAMPLE P THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS CAME OUT WITH A STATEMENT AND YOU HAVE A LOCALITY PEDIATRICIANS SAYING KIDS NEED TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL AND THEY URGED A LOT OF STATES TO DO THAT.

FLORIDA NEVER SHUT THEIR SCHOOLS DOWN.

LOTS OF COUNTRIES IN EUROPENER SHUT THEIR SCHOOLS DOWN, AND THEY NEVER TIED ANY OUTBREAKS FOR SCHOOLS BEING IN SESSION FOR THOSE KIDS AND PRECUSHIONS WERE TAKEN.

THERE WERE A LOT OF COUNTIES PREPARED TO HAVE KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL WITH DIFFERENT THINGS BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF ORDERS OUT PUT OUT THERE THAT WERE ARBITRATOR THAT'S CERTAIN CLINICS COULD BE OPEN, CERTAIN CLINICS COULD NOT.

A LOT OF RURAL HOSPITALS ARE AT THE THREAT OF BEING CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE IMPLICATIONS BEVE A LOT OF 911 IN OUR BUDGET TO LET THOSE HOSPITALS CONTINUE TO RUN TO BORROW FUNDS TO HELP KEEP THEMSELVES AFLOAT.

>> AND THAT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, RIGHT?

THERE WERE SEVERAL HOSPITALS ALREADY AT THREAT OF CLOSURE BEFORE IN NORTHERN 63 KENTUCKY, GREENE COUNTY.

THERE WAS LEGISLATION PRE-COVID ON THAT.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.

>> IT'S GOTTEN BUTTERS SHUT DOWN ELECTIVE PROCEDURES, PEOPLE GETTING CATARACTS DONE.

I GAVE A SPEECH ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE LISTING THOSE PROCEDURES.

CERTAIN CLINICS WERE LEFT OPEN AND OTHERS WERE NOT.

THAT'S A QUENT RULES DON'T APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD.

A LOT OF WHAT IS PUT IN SENATE BILL 1, THE GOVERNOR CAN STILL ALL CALL A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

IT'S JUST SAYING AFTER 30 DAYS IF YOU WANT TO EXTEND THAT YOU NEED TO COME TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SAY, HERE'S WHY I NEED TO EXTEND THIS STATE OF EMERGENCY.

WE NEVER HAD A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN KENTUCKY ORIGINALLY.

WHEN E ESTABLISHED OUR LAWS IT WAS THINGS LIKE HURRICANE AND FLOODING.

NOT A YEAR AND A HALF PANDEMIC.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO INFORM OUR LEADERS WHO ARE LEAKED ALSO TO SAY HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET DONE, FEED FEEDBACK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE WORKING, NO WORKING, WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER IS GET THOSE THINGS DONE.

AND THE WAY SENATE BILL 1 IS WORKING IF YOU'RE PUTTING ANY RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE FOR 30 DAYS YOU'VE GOT TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IT.

GIVES GUIDANCE TO A LOT OF TO SAY IN HOUSE BILL 1 YOU CAN FOLLOW FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS PUTTING OUT ON THE CDC, WHICHEVER ASK LEAST RESTRICTIVE.

IT'S BUDGET IN GUIDELINES.

THERE ARE IN 38 OTHER STATES WITH SOME RESTRICTED POWER ON THE GOVERNOR.

>> I'LL LET YOU GIVE ANOTHER WORD ON THAT BEFORE I BREAK DOWN SOME OF THE MITIGATION MEASURES AND FACT THAT THERE IS A FLOCKE PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION WHETHER THAT'S HEALTHY AND SCIENTIFICALLY BASED.

>> FIRST OF ALL, RENEE, LET ME GO BACK TO SENATOR ALDERMAN 'S FIRST POINT.

LET ME CLARIFY SOMETHING.

THE GAVE IT YOU DEALT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF DOSES THAT WE GET.

AND I STAND BY THAT.

IF YOU GO TO THE CDC WEBSITE TODAY, JUST TODAY, YOU'LL SEE THAT KENTUCKY HAS ADMINISTERED 85% OF THE DOSES THAT'S BEEN GIVEN.

WE'RE NUMBER 14 OUT OF ALL STATES.

I STAND BY THAT.

THE CDC WEBSITE VERIFIES THAT.

NOW, WERE REGARD TO THE VACCINATION RATE THAT SENATOR ALVARADO WAS TALKING ABOUT, HE IS CORRECT THAT KENTUCKY IS AT 39%.

BUT, RENEE, EVEN AT 39% PUTS US THIRD AMONG ALL SOUTHERN STATES.

WE'RE THIRD.

ONLY VIRGINIA AND FLORIDA EXCEED US.

AND AGAIN WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT -- >> IS THAT AN ACCEPTABLE RATE JUST BECAUSE WE'RE THIRD OUT OF SOUTHERN STATES?

>> RENEE, LET'S FACE THE FACTS HERE.

OKAY?

THE SOUTHERN STATES HAVE SHOWN THIGHEST DEGREE OF VACCINE HESITANCY.

THE HIGHEST DEGREE.

REGRETTABLY BUT THE FACTS DEMONSTRATE THAT.

EVEN WITH THAT SAID, EVEN WITH THAT SAID, THIS GOVERNOR, BECAUSE OF HIS PERSISTS AND BECAUSE OF HIS LEADERSHIP, HAS VACCINATED MORE THAN ANY OTHER -- ANY SOUTHERN STATE EXCEPT FOR TWO, AND THAT'S VIRGINIA AND THAT'S FLORIDA.

SO THAT'S A TREMENDOUS JOB, GIVEN THE VACCINE HESITANCY THAT WE SEE IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

I THINK THAT'S ADD PITBULL MIRABLE.

>> I WANTED -- YOU HAVE A -- ADMIRABLE.

>> YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT?

I ALMOST CALLED YOU REPRESENTATIVE.

DR. MONTGOMERY-YATES, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT.

>> ONLY I WOULD SAY THAT I THINK THE TWO GENTLEMEN ARE GIVING DIFFERENT STATS, ONE IS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ACTUAL DOSES THAT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO KENTUCKY AND ADMINISTERED, AND THAT IS CORRECT, WE ARE AT 85%, VERSUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED A FULL VACCINE BECAUSE WE HAVE 4.3 MILLION PEOPLE.

FOR EVERYBODY TO GET VACCINATED, SINCE THAT MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THE MRNA WHICH IS TWO DOSES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 8.6 MILLION DOSES WOULD HAVE TO BE GIVEN.

I THINK THEY'RE GIVING DIFFERENT INFORMATION.

AS SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT IN THE POLITICAL ARENA, THE GOVERNOR WAS IN A POSITION INITIALLY THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW, NONE OF US KNEW.

IF YOU HAD TOLD ME TWO YEARS AGO THAT THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO SHUT DOWN BUSINESSES, THERE WAS A VIRUS RUNNING RAMPANT KILLING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ACROSS THE WORLD, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU YOU WERE CRAZY.

SO I THINK THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER IS THERE WASN'T A PLAYBOOK FOR THIS.

>> WERE THERE NOT SIGNS THAT THIS WAS ON HORIZON?

WE HAVE ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT SUPER BUGS.

EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNPRECEDENTED, WAS IT UNPREDICTABLE?

>> I WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, AND I REMEMBER THE VIROLOGIES GETTING UP IN OUR MICROBIOLOGY CLASS AND TELLING US VIRUSES ARE GOING TO KILLS UP.

WE WERE LIKE, THAT CRAZY PROFESSOR GUY.

RIGHT?

IT'S BEEN GOING FOR YEARS.

WE HAD H1N1 WITH INFLUENZA SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

I WAS ON THE ICU THOSE MONTHS.

I SAW THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE DIE AND THOUGHT THIS IS HORRIBLE.

WHY DO PEOPLE NOT TO GET THE INFLUENZA VACCINE?

BUT IT WAS STILL MULTI-MUCH MORE CONTROLLED THAN THIS.

I TRULY DON'T THINK ANYONE HAD THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC OF THIS MATIC, AND WHEN IT HAPPENED I THINK WE WERE ALL -- OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

AND WE WERE WITHOUT A PLAYBOOK.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNEW HOW.

INITIALLY IT WAS FEAR DRIVING A LOT OF THOSE DECISIONS BUT I DON'T THINK HAVING A SINGLE HUMAN MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT LAST FOR ETERNITY IS THE WAY THAT DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA WAS BUILT.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S VALUE IN BOTH OF THE COMMENTS.

>> AND REQUIRING VACCINES, YOU CAN'T DO, RIGHT?

THERE I WAS LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THE '21 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT THAT AND THE FACT THAT THE CAB MET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES DID NOT, HAS NOT MANDATED VACCINATIONS ALTHOUGH THERE WAS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE THAT POINTED.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE CASE, SENATOR THOMAS, THAT VENES ARE REQUIRED FOR SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AND OTHER THINGS AND BUSINESSES IAN FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES?

SHOULD THEY MANDATE THAT THEY BEINGS VACCINATED.

>> >> NO, I DON'T, RENEE, AND THE REASON I DON'T IS BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, I SIT ON THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, AND WE HAD A COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK IN WHICH WE HAD THREE SUPERINTENDENTS: ONE FROM SHELBY COUNTY, ONE FROM ADAIR COUNTY, AND -- THREE REPRESENTATIVES, SUPERINTENDENT FROM SHELBY COUNTY AND TWO OTHER GENTLEMEN, ONE FROM ADAIR AND ONE FROM FAYETTE COUNTY.

AND FOLLOWING THEIR PRESENTATION I ASKED THEM A QUESTION.

I SAID, THERE'S BEEN NEW POLITICIZATION OF ANOTHER ISSUE ON COVID WHICH IS SHOULD WE REQUIRE VACCINATIONS OF STUDENTS.

I SAID, I'D LIKE THEIR INPUT SINCE THEY ARE THE ADMINISTRATORS.

AND ALL OF THEM SAID, RENEE, HALL OF THEM SAID SHELBY COUNTY, ADAIR AND FAYETTE COUNTY, THAT WE SHOULD NOT REQUIRE STUDENTS TO BE VACCINATED.

THEY FELT THAT, YES, WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE IT, IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PROMOTE AND PUSH, BUT WE SHOULD LEAVE IT UP TO INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES TO DO THAT.

AND I RESPECT THAT AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

I SAID YOU KNOW WHAT?

THEY'RE CLOSER TO THE SITUATION THAN I AM.

THEY'RE THE EXPERTS IN SCHOOLS.

SO, NO, WOULDN'T IT GO AS FAR AS TO SAY WE SHOULD REQUIRE STUDENTS COMING BACK TO SCHOOL THIS FALL, EVERYBODY'S COMING BACK TO SCHOOL.

LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

EVERYBODY IS COMING BACK TO SCHOOL AND WE WANT PEOPLE IN SCHOOL.

WE SHOULD NOT REQUIRE VACCINATIONS.

I WOULD NOT SUPPORT THAT.

>> IS THERE ANYONE IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY THAT HAS HAS A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THAT?

I'LL GO TO DR. MCKINNEY OH AO FIRST?

DO YOU THINK VACCINATION SHOULD BE REQUIRED PARTICULARLY FOR ENTRY INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

WE CAN'T SEE YOU SO JUST GO AHEAD AND AND CHIME IN WITH YOUR RESPONSE ON THAT.

>> SO GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> DR. AYO, GO AHEAD, SIR.

>> OKAY.

I REALLY THINK VACCINATION IS THE ANSWER.

WE COULD NOT CONTROL THE VIRUS WITH THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE MASKS.

OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL IN DECREASING THE PREVENTION OF THE VIRUS BUT REALLY CHANGED WAS THE VACCINE AND IN THE THE LAST FEW MONTHS SEEING MORE AND MORE YOUNG CHILDREN -- [INDECIPHERABLE] ABOUT A WEEK AGO THE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS IN MUCH YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVE INCREASED, AND THERE'S SOME DATA SUGGESTING THAT THE VARIANT MAY BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN YOUNGER -- [INDECIPHERABLE] MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE AS LONG AS THE DATA SUPPORTS SAFE AND EFFICACY IN YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT THIS SHOULD REALLY BE A REQUIREMENT.

I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTAIN THIS VIRUS, THAT THIS SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT -- [INDECIPHERABLE] AND YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE VACCINATED.

>> DR. MCKINNEY, DO YOU AGREE?

>> I THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE VACCINES, AND THEY'RE ALL, OF COURSE, OUT THERE UNDER EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION, THE UA, WHICH IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PROCESS OF REVIEW BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION THAN IS LICENSURE OR FULL APPROVAL.

QUANTITATIVELY, IT'S MUCH MORE EXHAUSTIVE TO GO THROUGH THE LICENSURE.

YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE EVIDENCE OF BOTH SAFETY AND EFFICACY AT A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL THAN TO GET EUA.

EUA MEANS THAT THE OVERALL WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE BENEFIT OF THE VACCINE BEING GREATER THAN THE RISK.

THAT'S REALLY ALL YOU NEED TO DO TO GET EUA.

YOU NEED TO GET A WHOLE LOT MORE FOR LICENSURE.

THE APPROVAL PROCESS HAS BEEN ETCHED IN STONE.

IT'S VERY RIGOROUS.

I THINK ONCE WE GET TO THAT LEVEL, TO LICENSURE, THEN I CERTAINLY WOULD BE OPEN TO THE DISTRICTS TO MAKE THE CALL TO MANDATE IT.

UNTIL WE GET THERE, I THINK THERE'S NO LEGAL PRECEDENT FOR REQUIRING AN EUA APPROVED VACCINE.

>> AND DR. MONTGOMERY-YATES IS SHAKING HER HEAD AS WELL.

YOU AGREE WITH HIM.

>> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN MANDATE ANYTHING WHEN A MEDICATION IS ON EUA.

WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT IT GOES THROUGH ALL OF THOSE TRACKS.

ONCE IT DOES I THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT BALLGAME.

AND, I DON'T KNOW, I STRUGGLE WITH THIS.

IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE.

IF MY CHILD HAS CANCER, DO I HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO TREAT THEM EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT THIS IS A CURE.

IF I KNOW COVID IS GOING TO KILL MY CHILD BUT I CHOSE NOT TO VACCINATE THEM.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS.

I'M GLAD I'M NOT IN POLITICS AND DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THOSE SORTS OF OF DECISION BUT I THINK IT'S SHAPERY SLOPE AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A SOCIETY ARE GOING TO NEED TO TALK ABOUT BOPS UNTIL THIS POINT WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS SORT OF MASS PANDEMIC.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO MANDATE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY IN AMERICA, TO MAKE SPECIFIC DECISIONS, BUT THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THE DECISIONS HA THEY MAKE, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW WE AS A SOCIETY HANDLE THOSE.

AS SOMEONE ALREADY SAID, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE AT UK IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS.

WE WERE DOWN IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND YESTERDAY WE WERE AT 29 PATIENTS WITH 18 ADDITIONAL PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL HOR NO LONGER INFECTIOUS.

SO WE'RE UP IN THE 40 RANGES.

>> ARE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> SOME OF THEM ARE YOUNGER.

THEY ARE MOSTLY UNVACCINATED.

>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK DR. AYO SAID THAT, TOO, I THINK HE SAID ALL OF THEM ARE NOT VACCINATED, SO I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THAT FROM WHERE YOU YOU ARE AT UK.

>> THEY'RE ALL UNVACCINATED.

I THINK WE HAD TWO IN THE HOSPITAL WHO WERE TRANSPLANT PATIENTS AND IF YOU'RE IMMUNE SUPPRESSED THEY HAD BEEN VACCINATED BUT DIDN'T MOUNT THE RESPONSE.

>> YOU ARE GOING EXACTLY WHERE I WANTED TO GO.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ANTIBODIES, ANTIBODY TESTS FOR THOSE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED OR HAVE CANCER OR OTHER OTHER THINGS.

MAYBE THEY CAN'T GET A VACCINE AND, OF COURSE, IT DIDN'T WORK.

THERE'S A SPECIAL TERM FOR THAT.

DO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS YOU'RE WATCHING "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REBOUND FROM COVID-19.

WE HOPE WE'RE USING THE RIGHT PHRASEOLOGY ON THAT, THAT WE ARE ON THE REBOUND FROM COVID-19.

WE ARE BETTER THAN WE WERE 15 MONTHS AGO.

I THINK THERE'S OVERALL CONSENSUS ABOUT THAT.

DR. MONTGOMERY-YATES, I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU WERE VACCINE FAIL OUR OR VACCINE NON-RESPONDERS.

THAT'S THE TERM I WAS SEARCHING FOR.

SO WERE YOU ALREADY GOING THERE ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE IMMUNOSUPPRESS PD KIND OF GIVE US SOME SCHOOLING ON THAT IF YOU WILL.

>> WHEN YOU RECEIVE A VACCINE, IT THE SAME STIMULATE LATES YOU'RE IMMUNE SYSTEM THROUGH YOUR NATURAL TO CREATE DO NOT KNOW BODIES BUT IF YOU'RE ON MEDICATIONS TO SUPPRESS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM, GETTING A TRANS LANT AND HAVE CANCER OR KEEPER THERAPY FOR SOMETHING AS SAMPLES KOREANS DISEASE FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, YOUR NEIGHBOR MAY BE GETTING THEIR MCDONALD'S INFUSION, MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE DON'T MOUNT THE SAME ANTIBODY RESPONSE BECAUSE WE'RE CONVENIENCE PARTS OF THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM IN ORDER TO KEEP OTHER DISEASES AT BAY THAT ARE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES OR WE'RE GIVING THEM THINGS TO REALLY SUPPRESS THEIR NATURAL IMMUNITY.

THOSE FOLKS, WHEN THEY RECEIVE A VACCINE, MAY JUST NOT HAVE THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM IMMUNITY.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY DONE -- SOME OF THE PATIENTS AT UK, MANY OF THE RHEUMATO LOGICAL AND HEMA TO LOGICAL IMMUNITY PATIENTS HAVE BEEN GETTING ANTIBODY TENSION AND IF THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE WE HAVE SEVERAL WE'VE GIVEN A THIRD DOSE TO WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE CDC AND LION AT ANTIBODY LEVEL TO SEE.

BUT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WE HAVE SEEN BACK IN THE HOSPITAL WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED HOFFARBER SICK ARE PEOPLE WHO WERE IMMUNE SUPPRESSED, AND THAT'S AGAIN WHY I SAY POH TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO IS IMMUNE SPREADS IN YOUR WORLD AND WHO MIGHT SAY, YEAH, I GOT MY VACCINE BUT THEY MAY NOT HAVE RESPONDED.

IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME THAT WE'RE RESPECTFUL OF THAT.

>> THERE'S NO HARM IN BOLSTERING THAT PROTECTION BY GETTING A THIRD VACCINE IF YOU'VE GOT VACCINES FROM PFIZER AND MODERNA.

>>> NOT THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

>> IS THERE A STUDY UNDERWAY TO SEE WHAT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS THAT OF MIGHT SOMEBODY.

>> YEP.

THERE WERE SEVERAL FOULKE FOLKS DURING THE VACCINE PROCESS -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU KNOW ABOUT IT BUT IT'S THIS TINY SYRINGE.

YOU HAVE TO MIX IN VERY TINE AMOUNTS OF DILUTE ANT AND PULL IT UP IN THESE TINE LITTLE SYRINGES.

WELL, THERE WERE SOME ERRORS IN THE BAZILLION OF VACCINES THAT WERE GIVEN SO THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO GOT HUGE DOSES OR LOWER DOSES.

ONCE THAT WAS FOUND MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE GOT ANTIBODY LEVEL CHECKED, AND A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE VACCINE SYSTEM THROUGH THE CDC TO LOOK AT THOSE LEVELS, SO WE'RE GATHERING LOTS AND LOTS OF INTERESTING DATA ABOUT HOW THIS VACCINE INTERACTS AND WITH OUR ANTIBODIES AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO MEAN LONG TERM.

>> AND SO IMMUNITY, IS IT DIFFERENT IF YOU WERE INFECTED VERSUS IMMUNITY FROM A VACCINE?

>> DIFFERENT.

SO I MEAN, IN THE SENSE THAT IF YOU HAD A VACCINE, THERE WERE STUDIES DONE, AND SO THEY TOOK HUMANS, THEY GAVE THEM THE VACCINE, THEY MEASURED ANTIBODY LEVELS, AND THEN THEY GAVE THEM THE SECOND DOSE AND MEASURED THE ANTIBODY LEVELED.

THE ISSUES IS GETTING THE VIRUS IS WE KNOW IF YOU GOT THE VIRUS YOU HAVE SOME ANTIBODY RESPONSE BUT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WHAT DOSE OF VIRUS THAT YOU GOT AND WHAT YOUR ANTIBODY RESPONSE WAS WHICH IS WHY WE TELL PEOPLE EVEN IF YOU WERE POSITIVE, YOU STILL SHOULD GET THE VACCINE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU'LL GET A GOOD ENOUGH ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO BE IMMUNE DOWN THE ROAD.

>> HOW SOON SHOULD YOU GET A VACCINE AFTER?

>> 90 DAYS.

WITHIN THE 90-DAY WINDOW.

>> WE KNOW 90 DAYS.

>> WE KNOW THAT FOR 90 DAYS YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOME NATE IMMUNITY, AND THE QUESTION -- I INNATE IMMUNITY.

LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A ASYMPTOMATIC.

THE AMOUNT OF SYMPTOMS IS THE BASED ON THE VIRAL LOAD.

IF TWO VIRUSES GET IN YOUR BODY, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GO BING AND BE GONE WITH THEM , BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU COULDN'T TEST POSITIVE THAT I SWABBED YOUR THROAT BECAUSE YOUR THROAT IS LOOKING FOR THE VIRAL DNA BUT YOU'RE PROBABLY NEVER GOING TO BE CONTAGIOUS TO OTHER PEOPLE, RIGHT?

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, THEN YOU TECHNICALLY HAVE A -- THEORETICALLY, RIGHT?

-- HAVE A BIGGER VIRAL LOAD.

IT'S INVADE YOUR CELLS.

HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME IT AND SO YOU FEEL POORLY.

THATES WHY WE HAVE HAD HISTORICAL I SAID IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS GET TESTED.

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS STAY HOME.

WE DIDN'T TEST PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE SYMPTOMS BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY WEREN'T AS CONTAGIOUS.

THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU WERE AN AAM IS TOIC POSITIVE I DON'T WANT KNOW YOUR ANTIBODY RESPONSES BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT STUDY EPP YET THIS.

OTHERS ARE IN THE BOXER WOULD GO.

THE IF YOU WERE A PERSON THAT GOT A FEVER AND DIDN'T GET SICK, WHAT'S YOUR ANTIBODY RESPONSE?

IF YOU WOUND IN THE ICU, WHAT'S YOUR ANTIBODY RESPONSE?

A LOT OF THOSE ARE VARIABLES THAT WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS TO.

WE KNOW THESE ARE THE RESPONDS WE SAW IN THE STUDIES AND TELL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU TESTED POSITIVE YOU SHOULD GET VACCINATED.

>> I BAND TO TALK TO DR. AYO WILL LONG-HAULERS AND FOR OTHERS WHO SUFFER THE REMNANTS OF COVID-19, MAYBE THINK WERE QUARANTINED AND DID WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO AND WEEKS AND MONTHS LATER THEY'RE STILL DEALING WITH RESIDUAL EFFECTS.

IS THAT I COMMON THING?

WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS FOR PULMONARY HEALTH, FOR HEART HEALTH?

I MEAN, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT?

>> SO WE DO HAVE A PULMONARY CLINIC, BUT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW OUR COVID PATIENTS, EITHER REFERRED FROM THE COMMUNITY OR ARE HO WERE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND THAT'S BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM.

QUITE NUMBER OF THEM ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF LONG HAUL SYNDROME, LOSS OF TASTE, LOSS OF SMELL, DECIPHER DECIPHER SOME.

[INDECIPHERABLE] THEY'RE JUST NOT BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE THE VIRUS AND SOME CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN THE SYMPTOMS.

THEY JUST KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT THE SAME.

AND THAT'S REALLY BEEN AN ISSUE.

SOME OF THE POSITIVES, THOUGH, IS PATIENTS WHO HAD PULMONARY ISSUES IN TERMS OF FI ROSES HAVE ACTUALLY IMPROVED IN FOLLOW-UP.

[INDECIPHERABLE] CLEARLY THOSE LONG HAULERS, THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL HEALTH AND ESPECIALLY MENTAL HEALTH, NOT BEING ABLE TO SMELL OR TASTE, OBVIOUSLY, AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN TERMS OF THING THEY WANT TO EAT AND ENJOY, AND ALSO THIS BRAIN FOG THAT THEY JUST CAN'T CONCENTRATE OR WORK LIKE THEY USED TO.

THIS CAN BE VERY DISABLING.

AND CLEARLY WE'VE BEEN SEEING THAT -- [INDECIPHERABLE] IT DOES GET BETTER SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS LATER THEY HAVE REPORTED IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR SYMPTOMS, BUT IT WILL BE A REAL LINGER PROBLEM.

>> DR. KINNEY, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ABOUT THE LONG HAULERS AND THE LONG-TERM FEDEX?

LONG-TERM MEANING WE HAVE DEALING WITH THIS 15 MONTHS.

DO WE KNOW THE EXTENT OF LONG-TERM FEDEX OF COVID?

>> NOT FULL YET UNFORTUNATELY.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF CENTERS ARE VERY ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN STUDYING THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, LOOKING AT PEOPLE WERE PERSIST SYMPTOMS AFTER THEY LEFT THE OPEN.

UofL HALF SUCH A CLINIC AND IS DOING A WHOLE RANGE OF STUDIES ON THESE FOLKS, CARDIAC FUNCTION, PULMONARY FUNCTION, QUALITY OF LIFE AND MANY OTHER THINGS.

ONE OF OF THE AREAS WE KNOW LEAST ABOUT PROBABLY IS THE IMPACT ON BRAIN FUNCTION.

IT WAS MENTIONED BY THE OTHER SPEAKER THAT BRAIN FOG, WHICH IS SORT OF A CONE FUSION, CONFUSION, INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE BUT THERE ARE OTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES.

THERE'S SORT OF BUICK A PTSD THAT EMERGES.

THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH ANXIETY, VERY DEPRESSION AND A WHOLE VARIETY OF THINGS THAT MIKE PEOPLE UNABLE TO FULFILL THE OTHER PRIOR ROLES IN SOCIETY.

SO WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THAT AND DETERMINE WHAT INTERVENTIONS MIGHT WORK.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS YET.

THOSE ARE PRESSING ISSUES, AND TO WHAT EXTENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEM, WHO HAVE THE VIRAL INFECTION, HOW MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY ARE, IN FACT, DISABLED BY THEM TO THE POINT THEY CANNOT WORK, THEY CAN'T FULFILL THEIR FAMILY FUNCTIONS AND SO FORTH THAT NORMALLY WOULD BE EXPECTED OF THEM.

SO THE IMPACT OF COVID GOES WELL BEYOND HOSPITALIZATION INTO THE RECOVERY PERIOD, AND WE WERE JUST BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> RIGHT.

YES, GO AHEAD.

>> I WOULD FEEL REMISS IF I CAN'T SPEAK UP.

I'VE RUN AN IC RECOVERY CLINIC IN UK SINCE 2008 SO WE'VE SEASON MANY ICU SURVIVORS IN OUR CLINIC.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE.

WE FOLLOWED THEM FOR A YEAR AFTER THEY LEFT THE ICU.

SO MANY OF THE SYMPTOMS INTERESTINGLY THAT HAVE RENTAL COME INTO THE NEWS AS, THOSE THESE PEOPLE HAVE PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.

WE'VE SEEN THESE IN ICU SURVIVORS FOR YEARS.

>> THIS IS NOTHING NEW.

>> IT'S NOT.

BUT SUDDENLY THERE'S MORE OF THEM.

SO BEFORE IT WAS, NO, WE HAD ONE OR TWO OI A MONTH WHO CAME TO CLINIC AND E WE FOLLOWED THEM.

DURING COVID WE COULDN'T SEE THEM ALL, THERE WERE SO MANY BECAUSE IT AFFECTED SO MANY PEOPLE.

RIGHT?

SO I THINK MANY OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN WHAT WE CALL LONG HAULERS, AND TO ME THERE'S A DIVIDE.

THERE'S THE FOLKS THAT GO TO THE IC THAT HAVE POST INTENSIVE CARE SYNDROME.

IT'S A CON GLOM RAFT PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND TO GO COGNITIVE ISSUES RELATED TO THEIR ILLNESS.

YOUR BRAIN IS AS SICK AS THE REST OF YOUR BODY, AND I THINK WE FORGET THAT SOMETIMES.

THEN THERE'S THIS OTHER GROUP THAT REALLY WEREN'T THAT SICK, THEY THAN THE GO TO THE ICU, MAYBE IN THE HOSPITAL A FEW DAYS, BUT MONTHS LATER THEY SAY, I AM NOT THE SAME.

>> BUT THEY CAN'T PUT THEIR FINGER ON IT.

>> RIGHT.

THEY SAY THE BRAIN FOG, THOSE SORTS OF PIECES, AND TO ME THOSE ARE ALMOST PROBABLY TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS, PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM POST EXTENSIVE CARE OR PICS AND THIS VIRAL SYNDROME THAT CONTINUES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS ROAD HOW THOSE FOLKS AND HOW WE AS A SOCIETY TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> THAT'S ONE QIANA WANT TO CAN THE CHAIR OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE.

IS THIS GOING TO BE A TOPIC YOU TAKE UP IN THE MINUTE RIM, WHAT WOULD THE PLAN SAY TO THE PICS GROUP OR THE KENTUCKY GROUP AND SHOULD WE HELP THOSE FOLKS?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT WE SHOULD TO AS A GOVERNMENT.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE FALLOUT OF COVID TO UNDERSTAND.

I CAULKED TO CHAIRWOMAN MOSER ABOUT THAT.

>> SHE'S THE HOUSE COUNTERPART.

>> YES, IN THE HOUSE.

AT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE, TANKING A LOOK TO SEE WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED, WHAT'S THE FALLOUT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF NEGATIVE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO COME FROM THIS.

IN TERMS OF CHILD ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RATES THAT ARE GOING TO BE INCREASED, SO MANY THINGS FROM COVID THAT WE'RE HAVING TO LEARN AND DEAL WITH, AS FAR AS -- >> WHICH COULD HAVE REALBRIDGE IMPACTS.

>> SURE, YEAH, AND THERE ARE SO MANY REQUESTS COMING IN.

THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WE ARE GETTING PHONE CALLS.

>> THIS IS THE BUDGET YEAR.

>> YEP.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS WE'RE HOPING TO FUND AND ABLE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF EXTENDED CARE PROGRAMS ARE ALSO HUGE NEEDS.

WE'RE GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF INPUT.

TALK TO THE CABINET AND HAVE THEM PRESENT WHERE WE STAND, WHAT THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE, WHAT WE'VE LEARNED, IMPACTS, POSITIVE, NEGATIVE AND A COUPLE OF GOOD THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF COVID IS TELEHEALTH AND EXPANSION OF TELEHEALTH.

>> WHICH WE HAD FOR A LONG, LONG TIME BEFORE IT WAS MOVED IN A OPTIMAL WAY.

>> THREE YEARS AGO WE GOT THE ORIGINAL BILL THROUGH.

I HAD A LOT OF RESISTANCE FROM OTHER I GUESS SOME OF OUR INSURANCE PARTNERS OUT THERE WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF THAT.

AFTER WE WENT THROUGH COVID THEY LOOKED BACK AND SAID, THANK GOODNESS WE HAD THAT BILL IN PLACE, AND WE'VE EX TANNED PANNED IT BECAUSE IT'S WORKED WELL AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO CARE TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD THE HAVE HAD ACCESS TO CARE.

WE'RE GOING TO COVER A LOT OF THAT.

AND LOOK AT THINGS LIKE OUR HEALTH METRICS.

WHY ARE WE HAVING SUCH NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES?

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY WHO ARE UNHEALTHY.

SMOKERS, OBESITY RATES ARE HIGH.

>> PEOPLE MAY HAVE PUT OFF PREVENT CARE BECAUSE OF CONCERN ABOUT GOING INTO CLINIC SETTINGS.

I'M SURE, DR. YATES THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HEARD FROM FOLKS.

RILE WAIT UNTIL THIS IS OVER BEFORE I DO MY ROUTINE ANNUAL CHECKUPS.

>> YES.

ONE THING, PEOPLE WERE SCARED, AND TWO CLINICS WERE FULL.

THERE WAS SOME BACKUP.

DURING THE PERIOD WE CLOSED PEOPLE WERE UNSURE, IS MY CLINIC OPEN OR NOT?

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

I THINK SOME OF THAT, YES, THAT DID HE'D LEAD TO PEOPLE INGREDIENT THAT.

LETTERS PEOPLE HAD OTHER OBLIGATIONS.

WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE HOME FROM SCHOOL YOU DO NOT GET TO HAVE A LUNCH BREAK AND YOU'RE BECAUSE YOU ARE THE TEACHER AND THE PARENT AND YOU ARE DINING YOUR WORK DURING THE DAY.

I THINK IT CAUSED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY TO NEGLECT THEIR HEALTH.

ABOUT IT LETTERS THINK YEAR WE ARE NOT A HEALTHY STATE.

WE MADE NOT HEALTHY CHOICES.

SMOKING AND OBESITY RATES, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS ARE NOT HELPING US, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE -- I'M AN ICU DOCTOR.

THIS IS WHAT I DO.

BUT WE NEED TO SPEND MORE RESOURCES HERE.

WE HAVE GOT TO GET INVESTED IN PREVENTION AND NOT JUST TREATMENT.

THAT HAS TOBY OUR GOAL AS A HEALTH SYSTEM.

>> I WANT TO GO TO SENATOR THOMAS FOR THAT BECAUSE HE WILL BE PART OF THE BUDGET OF THE CONTRACTING PROCESS IN 2022, AND WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE POSED TONIGHT AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS AND FROM SOCIAL SERVICES TO EDUCATION TO HEALTH CARE, I MEAN, HOW DO YOU PUT YOUR ARMS RARN AROUND THIS?

>> RENEE, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO.

SUFFICE TO IT SAY THAT I COULDN'T AGREE WITH DR. YATES MORE THAT WE NEED TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A HEALTHIER SOCIETY.

I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF-TOPIC HERE BUT AS YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR A LONG TIME TO EXPAND THE MEDICAL CARE WE PROVIDE TO INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS STATE.

SO DR. YATES AND OTHERS ARE TALKING MY LANGUAGE HERE.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO DR. AYO OR DR. MCKINNEYY, AND I'LL DO BETTER ABOUT CALLING ON YOU SINCE YOU CAN'T SEE EACH OTHER, EITHER.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT REINFECTION EVEN IF YOU'RE BEEN VACCINATED, AND THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I OFTEN GET, AND SO NOW THAT I HAVE THE EXPERTS HERE, I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

AND DR. ALVARADO, SENATOR ALVARADO, ALSO, HE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE VACCINATIONS DO HELP STAVE OFF THE REALLY ADVERSE EFFECTS, HOSPITALIZATION, YOU KNOW, DEATHLY CONSEQUENCES FROM COVID.

SO DR. AYO, I WANT YOU TO CHIME IN ON THIS ABOUT WHAT VACCINES WILL DO EVEN IF IT DOESN'T TOTALLY PREVENT IT, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT DOES, THAT YOU WILL END UP A LOT BETTER BY BEING VACCINATED THAN NOT.

>> SO THE VACCINE, AS OBVIOUSLY HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.

OF THE RESEARCH, ESPECIALLY PFIZER -- [INDECIPHERABLE] THERE'S SOME DATA THAT FIRST CAME OUT OF ISRAEL WHERE THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VACCINATION RATE WHERE THE -- THE VACCINE REDUCES YOUR RISK SERIOUS CRITICAL LIVE INFECTION AND PREVENTS TRIPS TO THE HOSPITAL AND BEING ADMITTED TO THE ICU.

ALSO, THERE IS SOME DATA THAT SUGGESTS THAT SOME OF THE VACCINE PROTECTS AGAINST NEW VARIANTS.

[INDECIPHERABLE] ALSO THE VARIANT WHICH WAS INITIALLY IDENTIFIED, THE UNITED KINGDOM.

[INDECIPHERABLE] CLEARLY HAVING THE VACCINATION IN TERMS OF EVEN IT DOESN'T PREVENT THE ILLNESS, PREVENT HAVING VERY SERIOUS AND ADVERSE EFFECTS FROM THE INFECTION ITSELF IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.

WE HAD MOST OF OUR STAFF VACCINATED, SO WE RARELY EVER HAVE MEDICAL STAFF WHO HAVE TAKEN A SICK LEAVE FROM THE VACCINE OR FROM THE ILLNESS ITSELF.

SO WE ARE REALLY PREPARED FOR THE BEING VERY EFFECTIVE AND ALSO FROM THE NUMBER OF ADDITIONS AND CLEARLY THE RATE IS CLIMBING ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND HOPEFULLY IT HELPS PREVENT THE NEXT WAVE.

SO A LOT OF POSITIVES IN TERMS OF GETTING THE VACCINATION IN TERMS OF THE ILLNESS ITSELF, SEVERITY AND ALSO PREVENTION, PREVENTS ADDITIONAL VARIANTS FROM HAPPENING BECAUSE THE VIRUS DOESN'T HAVE A HOTTEST, THEN HOST, THEN THE RISK OF COMPLICATIONS IS LOW.

>> DR. MCKINNEY WHEN I HAVE DONE THESE, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY AMONG THE AMERICA HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY, WILL WAS HESITANCY AMONG THE SUPPORT STAFF OF GETTING VACCINATED.

HAVE WE CROSSED THAT BRIDGE THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE VACCINES WHERE THE HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY IS COMPLYING WITH WHAT'S RECOMMENDED.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT THE PERCENTAGE COVERAGE IS DEFINITELY HIGHER IN IN HEALTH CARE COMMUNITIES BY AND LARGE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

JUST BECAUSE THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SEEN THE DIRECT IMPACT THAT COVID HAS HAD AND WHAT DEVASTATION IT CAN CAUSE PERSONALLY AND UPON FAMILIES AS WELL.

AND SO THAT IS NOT THE PRIMARY AREA OF CONCERN BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, IF YOU WILL.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO MAY NOT ACTUALLY HAVE WITNESSED THE IMPACT OF COVID, SEEING SOMEBODY WHO HAS HAD COVID ILLNESS, TRYING TO TREAT THEM OR MANAGE THEM, THEY'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO SOMEWHAT DENY THE EVERETT SEVERITY OF PROBLEM AND NOT HAVING WITNESSED HOW DEVASTATING IT CAN BE TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

SO THE CHORE THAT WE HAVE REALLY TO CONVINCE THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF GOING WITH THE HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY WHO -- WE'RE NOT AT 100%.

THAT'S BY NO MEANS THE CASE, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT WE'RE A LOT OF BETTER OFF.

LET ME JUST EMPHASIZED ONE MORE POINT THAT WAS RAISED EARLIER IN TERMS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED OR NON-RESPONDERS TO VACCINE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS WHY WE REALLY NEED TO GET IMMUNIZATION RATE IN THE POPULATION UP AS HIGH AS WE CAN BECAUSE THIS PROVIDES SORT OF AN ENHANCED HERD IMMUNITY, IF YOU WILL, SORT OF A COCOONING.

THIS IS A TERM THAT'S USED, BORROWED FROM THE PEDIATRIC COMMUNITY, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO INSULATE A CHILD WHO IS IMMUNOSUPPRESSED.

YOU WANT TO I UNITIZE THEIR PARENTS, THEIR -- IMMUNIZE THEIR PARENTS, THEIR SIBLINGS, THEIR GRANDPARENTS ANYONE WHO IS GOING TO VISIT THE FAMILY AND SO ON, MAKE SURE EVERY ANYONE WHO IS GOING TO CONTACT THAT IMMUNOSUPPRESSED CHILD IS TOTALLY PROTECTED, AND IN DOING THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CHILD THEMSELVES CANNOT MOUNT AN IMMUNE RESPONSE, YOU'RE DOING YOUR UTMOST TO PREVENT THEM AGAINST INFECTION.

>> HAVING THE VILLAGE THAT'S SUPPORTING THAT CHILD OFFER AN EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION BECAUSE THEY'RE VACCINATED.

I KNOW WE HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES BET LUT "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" LAST FRIDAY MELISSA PATRICK WITH RURAL HEALTH NEWS TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE HESITANCY IN SOME OF OUR RURAL COUNTIES, AND ABORTION WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE TESTING OF FECAL MATTER OF FETUS MATTER, AND SO I'M REALLY CURIOUS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS A POLICYMAKER AND A PHYSICIAN YOU'RE RESPONSE TO THAT CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO BEING VACCINATED.

>> AS FAR AS USING FETAL MATERIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VACCINES?

>> THAT'S MORE CLEAR.

>> THERE'S A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FOR SOME PEOPLE.

SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, I'M STAUNCHLY PRO-LIFE AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THING I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE USING HUMAN LIVES FOR THAT PURPOSE.

HOWEVER, WE'VE GOT AGAINST MESSENGER RNA VENES ARE AVAILABLE THAT DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT.

SO IF PEOPLE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT, THERE ARE OTHER VENES AVAILABLE TO GIVE YOU THE IMMUNITY YOU NEED FOR IT.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE OFTEN WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY.

I RECEIVED THE VACCINE.

MY FAMILY HAS.

MEDICAL PROVIDERS ACROSS THE BOARD, PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THIS SCIENCE HAVE TAKEN THOSE VACCINATIONS ON FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THEIR PATIENTS, KEEPING THEIR LOVED ONES AROUND THEM.

WE WERE KNOW THE STRENGTH THAT THESE THINGS WILL HAVE.

IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO SOMEONE USING FETAL THE ISSUE FORE THE PRODUCTION OF VACCINES, THERE ARE TERRY POPS THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU CAN USE.

>> WITH 45 SECONDS LEFT WE'RE GOING THREE HAVE IT THERE BUT I DO THANK YOU ALL FOR A COMBINATION PROGRAM ABOUT POLICY AND THE SCIENCE AND I THINK HOPEFULLY IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND ENLIGHTENING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND SO WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE THE ADVICE OF THOSE WHO WERE HERE TONIGHT AND BE SAFE & IN THE MEANTIME.

AND WE WANT TO REMIND THAT YOU ON THURSDAY KET WILL PROVIDE LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ORAL ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT.

THERE'S EVEN A CASE ON WEDNESDAY STARTS AT 9:30 AND THE CASE INVOLVING THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, THAT'S ON THURSDAY, AND WE'LL START THAT COVERAGE AT 9:30 MORNING AS WELL.

IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

NEXT WEEK WE TALK ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

DON'T MISS THAT DISCUSSION.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

TAKE GOOD CARE AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY.