>> Renee: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND THE LINGERING UNKNOWNS OF C CASE NUMBERS, HOSPITAL NUMBERS, AND THE POSITIVITY RATE ARE ALL DECLINING IN KENTUCKY.

BUT COVID HAS PROVEN TO BE UNPREDICTABLE IN THE PAST.

SO WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IMMUNITY FROM ACQUIRED OR INFECTION VERSUS VACCINATION?

WHAT ARE THE LATEST RESEARCH AD AND IS VACCINE HESITANCY AFFECTING OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH E TO TALK ABOUT ALL THIS, WE HAVE IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO DR. ALICE THORNTON, CHIEF OF THE DIVISION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE AT U.K. HEALTHCARE.

ALISON ADAMS, VICE PRESIDENT FOR POLICY FOR THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTH AND STATE SENATOR RALPH ALVARADO, A WINCHESTER REPUBLICAN, CHAIR OF THE SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE, AND A PHYSICIAN.

JOINING US FROM OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO: STATE SENATOR KAREN BERG, A DEMOCRAT FROM LOUISVILLE, MEMBER OF THE SENATE AND HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE, AND A PHYSICIAN.

WE CERTAINLY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU TONIGHT SO SEND AS A QUESTION OR COMMENT ON twitter @KYTONIGHTKE SEND AN EMAIL TO KYTONIGHT@KET.. OR YOU CAN USE THE WEB FORM at MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE BOX THAT SAYS YOU'RE NOT A ROBOT.

OR YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-494.

THANK YOU, ALL OF OUR GUESTS IN LEXINGTON AND DR. BERG, SENATOR BERG AND LOUISVILLE.

WE HAVE DR. /SENATOR COMBINATIONS TONIGHT AND IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

I WANT TO STARTED WITH YOU, ALLISON ADAMS.

TODAY WE GOT NEWS DURING THE GOVERNOR'S COVID PRESS CONFERENCE THAT DECLINING POSITIVITY RATE, WE'RE UNDER 10%, THAT'S DROPPED FROM 10.55% JUST A WEEK AGO.

THE NUMBERS THREE YOU HAVE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS, SEEM TO BE ON THE DECLINE.

HOW OPTIMISTIC ARE YOU ABOUT THIS DECLINE?

DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING TREND?

OR DO YOU THINK THE NEXT SURGE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO BE OPTIMISTIC FOR SURE.

I THINK THAT WE'RE SEEING AN UPTICK IN VACCINES, MORE PEOPLE ARE ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVE, AND SO THAT'S A GOOD THING, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO CURVE CURB AND SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD WITH VACCINE.

ALSO, I THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AS KENTUCKIANS AS PROTECTING ONE ANOTHER AND RECOGNIZING AND FOLLOWING THE CONTACT TRACING, SO EVEN THOUGH WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE VARIANT AND A LOT OF THE UNKNOWNS, STILL A LOT OF THE SAFETY MEASURES PEOPLE ARE RAMPING BACK UP AND SEEING THOSE THINGS.

SO I THINK THAT I'M REMAINING OPTIMISTIC THAT WHATEVER WE FACE, IF WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY MEASURES AND CONTINUE TO KEEP RAISING THE NUMBER OF KENTUCKIANS GETTING VACCINATED, THAT WE'LL BE PREPARED FOR WHATEVER COMES NEXT.

>> DR. ALICE THORNTON, I THINK THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME WITH US ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

ARE YOU HOPEFUL ABOUT THIS DOWNWARD TREND?

AND ARE YOU SEEING ANY RELIEF, THESE HOSPITAL SETTINGS?

IS THAT ALREADY BORNE OUT THERE OR IS THAT YET TO COME?

>> I DO THINK THAT WE'RE SEEING SOME RELIEF RIGHT NOW, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, ALLISON, I REAL WANT TO BE HOPEFUL, AND I WAS JUST CHECKING SOME OF OUR NUMBERS AT UK AND DEFINITELY OUR NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED.

I THINK ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO OUR NUMBERS WERE LIKE 115 PEOPLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN NOW WE'RE LIKE 20 DOWN FROM THAT.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

>> 80 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S VERY HOPEFUL.

THE THING THAT I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT COVID, THOUGH, IS THERE'S HIGHS AND LOWS, AND, YOU KNOW, IS THIS SEASONAL?

IS IT BEHAVIORAL?

I DON'T THINK WE REALLY KNOW COMPLETELY, BUT WE JUST HAVE TO BE READY.

AND I LIKE ALISON SAYING US WORKING CONNECT AS KENTUCKIANS USING THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AND JUST REALLY COMING TOGETHER, WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN, YOU KNOW, TAKING JOY IN OUR WINS AND THEN BEING READY TO FIGHT JUST AS HARD AS, AGAIN, FOR THE NEXT ROUND.

>> AND VACCINES ARE THE BIGGEST TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX, RIGHT?

>> IT IS DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO RECENTLY U.K. HEALTHCARE SENT OUT A STREAM OF VIDEOS, AND THEY FEATURED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, AND ONE OF WHOM IS NURSE MEG PIPER AND SHE HAS A VERY COMPELLING STORY ABOUT WITNESSING OR BEING WITH A PATIENT WHO SHE THOUGHT WOULD HAVE MADE IT, DR. THORNTON, WHO DIDN'T, AND HERE'S WHAT SHE SHARES.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE HARDEST DEATHS FOR ME WAS A MIDDLE-AGED MAN WHO I JOKE WITH HIM.

AS WE GOT HIM INTO HIS ROOM.

AND APOLOGIZED THAT IT TOOK US SO LONG TO GET HIM THERE, AND I SAID, I'M SORRY FOR YOUR WAIT.

HE WAS LIKE, NO PROBLEM.

NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

WE GOT HIM INTO A ROOM, AND THERE'S A PHENOMENA WE SEE IN COVID PATIENTS THAT WE REFER TO AS HAPPY HYPE OKAYIC.

LIKE THEY'RE OXYGEN IS REALLY, REALLY LOW BUT THEY DON'T ACT LIKE THEY'RE IN ANY KIND OF RESPIRATORY DISTRESS, AND HE WAS ONE SUCH PATIENT, AND ONCE WE GOT HIM INTO A ROOM, WE REALIZED THAT WE WAS STRUGGLING.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE HELPED HIM.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING WE DID.

AND I REMEMBER WE GOT HIM IN THE ROOM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT HIM -- EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD.

WE THREW IT AT HIM.

AND I THOUGHT, OKAY, HE'S ONE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT IS.

AND I COME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND HEAR FROM A CO-WORKER THAT HE HAD NOT MADE IT.

AND HE WAS A HEALTHY GUY.

HE HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

THAT WAS THE ONLY MEDICAL PROBLEM HE HAD.

PEOPLE HAVE THIS IDEA THAT THE ONLY -- THE VERY SICKEST IN OUR POPULATION ARE DYING FROM THIS VIRUS, AND THAT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

WE ARE INTUBATING 20-YEAR-OLDS.

PERFECTLY HEALTHY NORMAL PEOPLE.

WE ARE -- WE ARE TRANSPLANTING ORGANS BECAUSE OF THE EFFECT THAT COVID HAS HAD ON PATIENTS LONG TERM, HEART TRANSPLANT, LUNG TRANSPLANTS.

I MEAN, THE EFFECT THAT THIS ONE VIRUS HAS ON THE HUMAN BODY IS ASTRONOMICAL.

I MEAN, IT TRULY JUST RAVAGES.

I MEAN, THAT WAS SHOCKING TO ME, TO LOSE HIM WAS SHOCKING TO ME BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED IN ALL MY EXPERIENCE, IN ALL THE YEARS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS JOB, I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT HE WOULD NOT MAKE IT.

>> SO THAT EXPERIENCE, DR. THORNTON, EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBERS ARE DECLINING, THESE ARE STILL PEOPLE BEHIND THESE NUMBERS, AND WHEN YOU HEAR THIS CASE OF A SEEMINGLY HEALTHY MAN, MIL-AGED WITH NO PREVIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS OR UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT THEY KNOW OF, WHO SHE SAYS THOUGHT WAS GOING TO MAKE IT, AND THEN DIDN'T.

THESE ARE I GUESS BECOMING MORE COMMON STORIES.

>> WELL, THEY'VE CONTINUED THE WHOLE TIME.

I KNOW DR. ALVARADO AND ALLISON AND I WERE TALKING BEFOREHAND AND THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE DO HAVE FACTORS THAT WE CAN POINT OUT, OKAY, THIS PERSON IS AT GREAT RISK OF DEATH, BUT THEN WE HAVE THESE SORT OF LIKE WHAT THIS LADY WAS TALKING ABOUT, 20-YEAR-OLD, 30-YEAR-OLDS 40-YEAR-OLDS WHERE YOU'RE LIKE, OKAY, THIS PERSON'S -- WE'RE GOING TO TANK HIM UP, WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM OUT AND THEY SHOULD LEAVE, AND THEN THEY DON'T, AND IT'S DEVASTATING.

VERY DEVASTATING.

>> DR. , SENATOR ALVARADO, YOUR TAKE.

YOU'VE HEARD THESE STORIES, AND AS A CHAIR OF THE SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE AND A PHYSICIAN YOURSELF, YOU KNOW THER THIS DISEASE.

>> YEAH, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, DID REALITY OF THIS DISEASE.

>> I ALMOST WISH THAT KIND OF A STORY WAS WHAT WAS TOLD FROM THE VERY, VERY BEGINNING.

I HAD A RECENT ARTICLE I POUT THAT SOME OF THE PAPERS COVERED WITH THE POLITICIZATION OF THIS TOPIC, UNFORTUNATELY, AND WHAT'S HAPPENED IS POLITICIANS TOOK IS LEAD ON THIS -- ON THIS DISCUSSION.

IF PEOPLE HEAR THEIR NURSES AND THE DOCTORS, PEOPLE THAT THEY TRUST WITH THEIR MEDICAL HEALTH CARE, IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONES TELLING THESE STORIES FROM THE BEGINNING, I THINK IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT APPROACH NATIONWIDE AND BE UNFORTUNATELY SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY THAT'S WHERE THIS WHOLE PATHWAY HAS COME.

I THINK, AND I'VE ARGUEDY -- WE JUST PASSED SOME LEGISLATION, PAST IT WAS TO HAVE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT FEATURED HEALTH CARE WORKERS, PATIENTS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS.

IF YOU SAW THAT GENTLEMAN VIDEOTAPED PERHAPS GOING ONTO A VENTILATOR BEFORE HE WENT ON AND THEN THE -- THOSE ARE GRAPHIC IMAGES THAT I THINK OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO SEE.

THOSE ARE THE STORIES THEY NEED TO HEAR BECAUSE THEY JUST SI STAY WI, IT'S SOMEONE IN AN NURSING HOME SETTING.

THIS IS A DISEASE THAT EFFECTS ALL AGES.

AND WE HAVE A REPETITIVABLE MEASURE AVAILABLE.

COUNTRIES ARE BEGGING FOR IT.

WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE.

WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SAY IF YOU SEE THAT HAPPEN ONCE TO ONE PERSON, YOU SAY I DON'T WANT THAT HAPPENING TO ME.

I THINK WHAT'S PART OF DRIVING A LOT OF THE VACCINATIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING OUT THERE ASK YOU'RE SEEING FAMILIES MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS YOUR SAME AGE AND SAY, WOW, I SAW JANE DOUGH GO THROUGH THIS OR I SAW JOHN SMITH GO THROUGH THIS AND THEY WERE HEALTHY AND THEY WERE FINE.

I DON'T WANT THAT HAPPENING TO ME AND SUDDENLY THEY'RE BECOMING A LITTLE BIT MORE FEARFUL AND RESPECTING THE DISEASE MORE.

AND REALLY WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE THAT WE CAN TO GO OUT AND GET VACCINATED.

I REMIND EVERYONE WHEN I HAVE A CHANCE FOG OUT IN PUBLIC TO REMIND FOLKS THIS IS THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS GO GET THE VACCINE.

I DON'T WANT TO SHAME THOSE QUESTIONS.

GO ASK THE PEOPLE THAT YOU TRUST IN HEALTH CARE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, AND LET THEM MAKE THE DETERMINATION, HELP YOU MAKE THAT DETERMINATION FOR YOURSELF AS WELL.

I THINK TOO MANY FOLKS ARE GETS INFORMATION FROM NON-MEDICAL SOURCES AND USING THAT AS THE BASIS OF THEIR DECISION MAKING.

I'D ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO THAT YOU CAN TO THEIR DOCS AND HELP THEM MAKE THAT.

IN THOSE KIND OF STORIES, YOU CAN SEE THE PAIN IN THAT NURSE'S FACE.

THAT'S A REAL TOLL ON OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS, AND WE'RE SEEING A MAJOR SHORTAGE IN OUR HOSPITALS AND OUR NURSING HOMES RIGHT NOW.

THOSE NURSES ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR HOSPITALS.

AND A LOT OF THEM ARE CHECKING OUT EARLY.

THEY'RE RETIRING EARLY.

THEY WORK VERY, VERY HARD.

AND EVERY TIME YOU SEE THAT PERSON, YOU HAVE AN INTERACTION WITH THAT PERSON, THAT GETS PERSONAL FOR HEALTH CARE PEOPLE.

YOU TAKE THAT PERSON'S HEALTH CARE VERY PERSONAL.

WHEN THE OUTCOME ISN'T WHAT YOU WANT AND YOU SEE A DEVASTATING OUTCOME, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HAUNT YOU A MILK PROVIDER AND YOU CARRY THAT WITH YOU AND IT NEVER GOES AWAY.

THAT STORY THAT SHE TOLD, SHE'LL BE TELLING THAT PROBABLY UNTIL THE DAY SHE DIES AND THAT WEIGHS HEAVY ON FOLKS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, TO GO OUT AND TO GO ASK THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO HELP YOU MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

>> SENATOR /DR.

BERG, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT WAS SAID BY THE NURSE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE HER, BUT THE PAIN, EXPRESSION ON HER FACE REALLY TELLS THE STORY, TOO, AND HER WORDS AND EXPERIENCE, AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW OF THIS VERY WELL.

>> OH, YES.

AND, RENEE, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE TONIGHT.

YOU KNOW, DR. ALVARADO AND I BOTH WERE ON A ZOOM MEETING A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PHYSICIAN LEGISLATORS, AND THESE ARE PEOPLE, LIKE BOTH OF US, WHO ARE BOTH PHYSICIANS AND ELECTED STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS.

ONE OF THE DOCTORS BROUGHT UP SOMETHING THAT I HADN'T EVEN CONSIDERED YET, BUT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS CULTURE OF DEATH, THAT THE HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY IS FACING RIGHT NOW, AND IT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE USED TO.

WE'RE USED TO WINNING.

WE'RE USED TO HAVING PATIENTS COME IN AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM GO HOME AND DO WELL, AND WE HAVE INTERVENTIONS, AND WE CAN -- WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COURSE THEIR TREATMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THIS PARTICULAR VIRUS, UNLESS YOU'RE PROACTIVE AND GET VACCINATED AHEAD OF TIME, BEFORE YOU GET INFECTED, AS HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, WHAT WE CAN DO ONCE YOU BECOME INFECTED IS REALLY LIMITED.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME CRANLEY VIRALS.

WE HAVE STEROIDS.

WE CAN PUT YOU ON AN INTEREST BARRETT.

WE CAN SUPPORT UP.

WE CAN SUPPORT YOUR KIDNEYS WHEN THEY FAIL.

WE CAN TRY TO SUPPORT YOUR HEART, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CURE FOR THIS.

WE DO NOT HAVE A CURE FOR THIS.

AND WE ARE SEEING PATIENTS DIE IN RECORD NUMBERS.

AND FOR EVERYBODY IN THE HOSPITALS, FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM, THIS IS -- IT'S LIKE A COMBINED SORT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS THAT WE'RE ALL GOING THROUGH BECAUSE WE SEE THIS DEATH EVERY DAY, AND NOW, YOU KNOW, UNLIKE WITH THE FIRST SURGE, THIS SECOND SURGE, THIS DELTA SURGE, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HOW PREVENTABLE THIS IS.

WE KNOW THAT IF PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN TO THE HEALTH CARE ADVISERS, LISTEN TO THE ELECTED LEADERS, LISTEN TO THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND GET VACCINATED, WE CAN PREVENT THIS.

WE CAN PREVENT THIS DEATH.

BUT THAT'S REALLY ALL WE HAVE.

AND IT TAKES EVERYBODY TRUSTING, TRUSTING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, TRUSTING YOUR DOCTORS, TRUSTING -- TRUSTING YOUR LEGISLATORS, THAT THIS IS REALLY WHAT IS GOING TO KEEP YOU SAFE.

>> TO GET TO THE POINT -- THANK YOU, SENATOR BERG.

TO GET TO THE POINT ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY, THE CEO, THE FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY KENTUCKY RECENTLY SAID AT A CONFERENCE, PUT IT BLUNTLY THAT VACCINE THEN IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CHRISTS, AND WE DO HAVE SOME MORE INSIGHT FROM A POLL THAT WAS RECENTLY CONDUCTED BY THE FOUNDATION THAT SHOWS THAT SEVEN IN TEN KENTUCKY ADULTS AGREE STRONGLY OR SOMEWHAT THAT ALL ROUTINE VACCINES RECOMMENDED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION ARE BENEFICIAL.

FOUR OUT OF FIVE KENTUCKIANS BELIEVE STRONG LORI SOMEWHAT WHAT BEING VACCINATED IS IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH OF OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

90% OF KENTUCKIANS BELIEVE GETTING VACCINATED IS A GOOD WAY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM DISEASE, BUT YET THOSE NUMBERS DON'T SEEM TO BE JIBING WITH WHAT THE STATEWIDE VACCINATION RATES ARE FOR COVID.

I'M CURIOUS, ALLISON ADAMS, IF THOSE NUMBERS ARE ENCOURAGING, AND HOW DO YOU TRANSFER WHAT THE POLL SAYS TO REAL LIFE APPLICATION OF WHAT KENTUCKIANS ARE ACTUALLY DOING?

>> RIGHT.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHEN WE REVIEW THE POLL, WE KNOW THAT WAS VACCINES IN GENERAL, AND SO WE STILL HAVE A CONFIDENCE ISSUE, MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY HESITANT, BUT A CONFIDENCE ISSUE IN THE FACT THAT THE COVID VACCINE IS CONSIDERED NEW.

THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.

IT'S A NOVEL VIRUS.

THE VACCINE WAS CREATED QUICKLY AND SWIFT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE CONFIDENCE IN THE VACCINE IS NOT THERE AS MUCH AS IT IS WITH OUR CONSIST OF CONSISTENT VENES THAT WE HAVE USE ROUTINELY WITH MEASLES, MUMPS, RUE BELL WITH YOU AB CHICKENPOX.

AND THOSE ARE COMMON VACCINES AND THE COVID VACCINE STILL SEEMS TO BE NEW AND NOT TESTED AND TRIED AND TRUE, AND SO OUR POLL ALSO INDICATED FOR HOSE WHO HAD SOME ISSUES OR HADN'T RECEIVED THE COVID VACCINE BUT STILL WERE WILLING TO CONSIDER, THEIR QUESTIONS WERE AROUND DOES IT REALLY PROTECT?

IS IT REALLY SAFE?

WHAT'S THE LONG-TERM EFFECT?

SO TO SENATOR ALVARADO'S MESSAGE IS TAKING THE TIME TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE MOVABLE.

THEY JUST HAVE SOME LEGIT QUESTIONS TO THEM PERSONALLY.

AND FOR US IT'S THERE, IT'S SAFE, IT'S OLD TECHNOLOGY.

WE WERE JUST WAITING FOR THE VIRUS TO EMERGE.

BUT YET IT'S -- THE INFORMATION OUT THERE IS THAT IT'S NEW AND IT'S NOT TESTED AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ARE, AND SO TAKING THE TIME WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, AND THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND OUR SWIFT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK INDIVIDUALLY TO THE PATIENTS THAT TRUST THEM AND HAVE THE TIME TO ANSWER SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE VACCINE.

>> BUT, DR. THORNTON, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE TREATMENTS FOR COVID, MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES I MEAN, WHO REALLY KNEW WHAT THAT WAS BEFORE COVID.

ALL THE OTHER TREATMENT OPTIONS SEEM TO BE EXPERIMENTAL OR QUESTIONABLE IN TERMS OF THEIR EFFICACY AND SAFETY, BUT YET WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME VIEW OF THE TREATMENT OPTIONS AS WE DO OF THE VACCINES ON THE OTHER END.

DOES THAT BOTHER YOU AT ALL?

>> IT BOTHERS ME A LOT.

SO I THINK YOU'VE BROUGHT UP SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS, AND IF I CAN JUST GO BACK FOR ONE SECOND, I REALLY LIKE WHAT THE SENATOR SAID AS FAR AS A TRUSTED SOURCE, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN LATELY TRYING TO SAY TO SOME OF MY PATIENTS.

I TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF HIV PATIENTS AND OTHER PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC INFECTIONS.

AND SOME OF THEM I'VE TAKEN CARE OF FOR 23 YEARS, SO THAT'S A LONG RELATIONSHIP, AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT I'M A TRUSTED SOURCE.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE PRIDEFUL, BUT IT REALLY -- IT'S LIKE YOU SAID, I HAVE THIS REALLY -- IT'S ALMOST LIKE -- IT'S NOT A FAMILY RELATIONSHIP BUT IT'S A REALLY STRONG BOND WITH THIS PERSON, AND I'VE RECOMMENDED ANTIRETRO VIRALS FOR THEM THAT AT THE TIME MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR A YEAR, SIX MONTHS OR WHATEVER, BUT THEY NEVER NECESSARILY QUESTIONED ME WRITING THAT PRESCRIPTION FOR THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THAT TREATMENT.

BUT YET WHEN IT COMES TO THE VACCINE, THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, I'M JUST NOT SURE.

AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS?

AND I'M TRYING TO BE RESPECTFUL.

BUT AS A PHYSICIAN AND JUST LIKE THE NURSE THAT WE WATCHED, YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL SORT OF BEAT UP BECAUSE IT'S LIKE YOU DID ALL THIS TRAINING AND YOU HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS YEARS OF PRACTICING MEDICINE, BUT YET WHAT YOU'RE TELLING THIS PERSON, YOU'VE READ THE DATA AND YOU UNDERSTAND THE SCIENTIFIC CONCEPT, NOT THAT I'M A SCIENTIST, I'M A PHYSICIAN, BUT THAT IS JUST SORT OF WIPED OFF THE TABLE.

SO THAT JUST BLOWS ME AWAY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE, AS YOU SAID, ALLISON, THESE VACCINES.

EVEN THOUGH THE ROLL-OUT WAS MUCH QUICKER AND THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED MUCH FASTER THAN EVER, THAT'S A COMPLETE WIN THAT THAT HAPPENED THAT WAY, BUT THERE'S STILL SCIENCE BEHIND ALL THAT, AND THAT PLATFORM WAS THERE SORT OF WAITING FOR A NOVEL VIRUS TO USE SOME OF THESE PLATFORMS.

AND I WOULDN'T EXPECT NON-SCIENTIFIC PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, HECK, I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND ALL THE SCIENCE BEHIND.

>> IT DO YOU THINK THAT PFIZER HAVING FULL FDA APPROVAL HAS MOVED THE NEEDLE?

AND IS THAT AN EXCUSE OR A REASON FOR WHY PEOPLE DIDN'T GET VACCINATED, BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO HAVE THAT FDA APPROVAL WHEN THEY MAY NOT REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE THAT OF ANYWAY?

>> I THINK IT MAY HAVE HELPED SOME PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T THINK SO, AND I THINK -- I DON'T WANT TO, AS YOU MENTIONED, I DON'T WANT TO BELITTLE PEOPLE'S CONCERNS BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CULTURALLY JUST MAYBE THEY'RE NOT MEDICALLY EVEN SAVVY ABOUT SOME OF THIS, SO I DON'T WANT TO BELITTLE THAT, BUT -- I DON'T KNOW.

I WISH I DID KNOW BECAUSE I WOULD TRANSLATE THAT TO A LOT OF MY PATIENTS.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON AND TALK ABOUT TREATMENTS AND OTHER ISSUES, I DO WANT TO BRING UP THE CDC RELEASED OVER THE WEEKEND KENTUCKY'S MOST AND LEAST VACCINATED COUNTIES, AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS ON THE SCREEN, AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE TOP FIVE MOST VACCINATED COUNTIES.

FRANKLIN, WOODFORD, CAMPBELL, FAYETTE AND BOONE.

AND YOU CAN SEE HOW HIGH THOSE NUMBERS ARE.

68.3 -- OR 69.3% IN FRANKLIN.

NOW, LET'S GO TO THE LIST OF KENTUCKY'S LEAST VACCINATED COUNTIES, AND YOU'LL SEE SPENCER RANKING AS THE LEAST VACCINATED.

CHRISTIAN, ELLIOTT, JACKSON, AND CASEY COUNTY.

SO HOW DO WE, HOW DOES SOCIETY, HOW DOES THE MEMORABILIA COMMUNITY, FRIENDS, FAMILY -- MEDICAL COMMUNITY, FRIENDS, FAMILY MOVE THOSE BOTTOM FIVE COUNTIES TO BE A LITTLE CLOSER TO BEING IN THE VACCINATED, MORE VACCINATED?

>> THAT'S THE MILLION DOLLARS QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF -- EINSTEINING.

WHEN I PUT OUT THAT RECENT ARTICLE AND DON'T POLITICIZE IT, I HAD A DOZEN PEOPLE WHO REACHED OUT WHO ME TO SCIENT ME FACEBOOK MESSAGES OR TEXTS OR eMAILS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE FIRST POSITIVE ARTICLE I'VE READ.

AND I STILL HAVE IT ON MY PHONE IF I COULD READ IT IF YOU WANTED ME TO, BUT FIRST ARTICLE, I TELL YOU I HAVE ALL THESE QUESTIONS, AND THE INDIVIDUAL SAID, AFTER I READ IT, I MADE ANEMOMETER TOMORROW TO GO SO MY DOC ABOUT GOING TO GET IT.

ASK ME A LOT OF LEGIT QUESTIONS.

A LOT OF SCEPTICISM ABOUT THE VACCINE.

AGAIN IT IS NEWER POP IT'S A DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY.

WHEN I EXPLAINED TO PEOPLE HOW THIS TECHNOLOGY WAS BEING DEVELOPED BACK IN THE 1980S, I THINK MOST OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY THOUGHT WE COULDN'T USE A RIBOSOME PATTERN.

IT'S A COMPLICATED MOLECULE.

IT WON'T WORK.

THE PERSON DEVELOP IT IS FROM HUNDRED GARE AND FLED TO THE UNITED STATES AND CONTINUED HER RESEARCH AND HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE A LOT OF THE WORLD FROM THIS INFECTION AND IT WILL WORKS AND IT'S BEING USED THAT WAY.

PEOPLE HEAR THE BACKGROUND OF THIS, THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS OR 30, 40 YEARS.

A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE BEING ASKED, EXPLAIN TO THEM THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW.

I ALWAYS REMIND PEOPLE THAT NOTHING IS 100% AND ZERO PERCENT MEDICINE.

NOTHING IS BLACK AND WHITE.

MOST OF WHAT WE DO IS A PREPONDERANCE OF OPINION OF A LOT OF EXPERTS, AND THINGS ALWAYS CONTINUE TO CHANGE WEISE LEARN NEW THINGS IN MEDICINE.

THINGS EVOLVE.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW, AND THERE'S BEEN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE RECEIVED THIS VACCINATION, THE SAFETY BEHIND IT, I SHOW THEM WHAT IT WOULD BE IF YOU GET AN INFECTION, THOUSANDS OF PERCENT WORSE OUTCOMES AND HIRE RISKS FOR YOU IF YOU SAY I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CATCH IT.

IT WON'T BE THAT BAD.

YOUR RISK OF DEATH IS VERY HIGH.

YOUR RISK OF COMPLICATIONS IS HIGH.

I TELL PEOPLE, I'M GOING DIE, I'M OKAY.

YOU DON'T GET TO PICK IF YOU GO.

YOU MIGHT HAVE A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK OR A STROKE AND BE FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAYS PARALYZED FEEDING THROUGH A TUBE.

YOU DO NOT GET TO PICK THOSE OUTCOMES YOU.

MIGHT HAVE A REALLY BAD OUTCOME THAT YOU DON'T WANT THAT MIGHT BE WORSE THAN DEATH FOR SOME PEOPLE, AND TO SAY THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE STARING AT, THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, HERE'S WHAT THE DOLLARS ON ARE IF YOU TAKE THE VACCINE AND IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER OF IMPROVING IT.

NOTHING IS 100% BUT ONCE I EXPLAIN IT THAT WAY.

THAT INDIVIDUAL SAID, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I JUST DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO AND I'M GOING TO GO TOMORROW AND GET THE VACCINE.

ITS TOOK ME 20 TO 30 MINUTES TO HAVE A TEXTED IMAGE WITH THAT PERSON THAT'S ONE AT A TIME.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE ONE AT A TIME MAKING SURE THAT THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SOMEONE THEY TRUST AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.

THOSE ARE -- SCEPTICISM IS OKAY.

IT'S OKAY TO HAVE QUESTIONS.

IT'S OKAY TO HAVE DOUBTS.

AS DOCTORS, WE'RE USED TO GIVING ADVICE ALL THE TIME THAT PEOPLE IGNORE AND DON'T FOLLOW.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TAUGHT BY OUR CODE OF ETHICS NOT TO BELITTLE PEOPLE, HUMAN I HUMILIATE THEM, SHAME THEM.

WE DON'T TAKE THAT APPROACH.

WE TAKE AN APPROACH OF EDUCATION, ADDRESSING FEARS AND CONCERNS.

IN THAT TIME I'VE HAD PLENTY OF PARENTS WHO COME IN WITH THEIR KIDS BEING VACCINATED.

THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE AND THEY HAVE CONCERNS.

I ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.

I BRING IN THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE.

AND THEY MIGHT NOT MAKE A DECISION.

SO THE NEXT TIME THEY COME IN FOR THEIR NEXT WELL CHILD CHECK I READDRESS AND AFTER TWO OR THREE INDIVIDUALS, VISITS WOULD BE ABLE AGREE WITH THESE.

DO WHAT YOU CAN TO GET COVERED WHAT YOU CAN GET COVERED.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS APPROACH FOR THIS, AND YOU JUST HOPE THAT THEY'LL RESPOND TO OUR URGENCY IN TIME TO SAVE THEM FROM A BAD OUTCOME.

>> WELL, GOOD POINT, SENATOR ALVARADO YOU EVER HAD AREVALO.

EARLIER TODAY WE CAUGHT UP WI A LEXINGTON WOMAN SARAH LENT WHO LOST THEY FATHER IN LATE AUGUST TO COVID AND HE WAS NOT VACCINATED, AND SHE WANTS TO SHARE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO OR VIEWERS TONIGHT.

HERE'S WHAT SHE SHARED WITH US.

SARAH, FIRST OF ALL, OUR CONDOLENCES TO YOU, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU'RE TAKING TODAY TO SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY DAD'S STORY.

>> SO TELL US ABOUT YOUR FATHER AND THE PICTURES THAT WE HAVE OF HIM.

HE SEEMS LIKE A VERY ACTIVE, YOUNG MAN.

TELL US WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST AND WHAT'S SWEETEST ABOUT YOUR DAD.

>> SO A LOT OF FOLKS KNOW MY DAD AS DR.

VON MILLER.

HE I WAS CHIROPRACTIC IN HARDEN COUNTY FOR 40 YEARS.

HE WAS A BAND DAD IN MY MARCHING BAND.

HE WAS A BIG UK BASKETBALL FAN.

HE LOVED DETAILING HIS CARS, MOWING HIS GRASS, LISTENING TO '70s MUSIC AND TELLING CORN JOKES.

>> TELL US ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE WITH COVID, AND WHAT IS HE VACCINATED.

>> SO HE GOT -- STARTED GETTING SICK IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST.

HE JUST STARTED GETTING REALLY WEAK AND JUST WAS VERY FLUE-LIKE AND HE THOUGHT HE COULD JUST RIDE IT OUT AT HOME BUT HIS OXYGEN STARTED DROPPING.

HE GOT TESTED.

HE WAS COULD I HAVE FOR COVID.

AND AT ONE POINT HE PASSED OUT AND THEY TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL AND PUT HIM ON A BIPAT MACHINE AND ABOUT THE SAME TIME MY STEPMOM ALSO STARTED GETTING SICK, AND SHE SAID IT WAS THE WORST SICKNESS SHE HAS EVER FELT.

SHE'S NEVER FELT MORE TERRIBLE.

AND SHE ALSO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.

BOTH OF THEM WERE NOT VACCINATED BASED OFF THE INFORMATION THEY HAD HEARD, EITHER THROUGH NEWS OR FACEBOOK OR FAMILY OR FRIENDS.

THEY DECIDED THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T ENOUGH INFORMATION TO DETERMINE THAT IT WAS SAFE ENOUGH TO GET, SO THEY CHOSE NOT TO GET IT.

>> HOW IS YOUR STEPMOTHER DOING?

>> SHE'S DOING MUCH BETTER, THANK GOD.

SHE'S OUT OF THE HOSPITAL NOW.

SHE'S OFF HER OXYGEN MACHINE.

SHE'S STILL VERY DEVASTATED FROM THE LOSS OF MY DAD, BUT HEALTH-WISE SHE'S DOING MUCH BETTER.

>> SO TELLING US ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THIS HAS HAD ON YOUR FAMILY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE BECAUSE HE WAS SO YOUNG AND ACTIVE AND SUCH A SHOCK, I KNOW.

HAS IT CHANGE ANY OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS' MINDS ABOUT THE COVID VACCINE?

>> YEAH, MY FAMILY IS STILL -- A LOT OF US IN SHOCK.

IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL REAL BECAUSE WE DIDN'T REALLY GET TO SEE DAD GROW OLD.

WE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BE AROUND ANOTHER 20, 30 YEARS.

SO IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL REAL YET, AND I JUST KNOW IT'S A PART OF THE GRIEVING PROCESS, BUT ALL THE FAMILY IS VERY UPSET AND TAKING IT HARD, BUT WE'RE JUST GETTING THROUGH IT THE BEST WE CAN AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SHARE OUR STORY SO MORE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND KNOW THAT IT'S AFFECTING HEALTHY PEOPLE, NOT HEALTHY PEOPLE, YOUNG, OLD, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

THERE'S A RISK THAT YOU COULD DO VERY POORLY IN THE HOSPITAL OR YOU COULD BE OKAY, BUT IT'S NOT WORTH TAKING THE RISK.

AND, YEAH, THERE'S A COUPLE FAMILY MEMBERS, AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS WITH MY DAD, THAT THEY DECIDED TO GET VACCINATED.

>> SARAH, I NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE A RIBBON ON YOUR LAPEL.

CAN YOU TELL US THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT.

>> YES.

SO I REALIZED, YOU KNOW, WHEN FOLKS LIKE ME WHO HAVE HAD SOMEBODY IN THEIR FAMILY PASS UNEXPECTEDLY FROM COVID, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, NOBODY KNOWS THAT WEIR GRIEVING, NOBODY CAN SEE THAT.

SO I'M JUST ASKING FOLKS, WHEN YOU GO OUT IF YOU'VE BEEN AFFECTED LIKE MY FAMILY HAS, WEAR A RIB OVEN BLACK AND GREEN.

THE BLACK REPRESENTS THE MOURNING OF A LOVED ONE, AND THEN THE GREEN REPRESENTS THE OTHER FAMILIES OUT THERE WHO HAVE LOST PEOPLE TO COVID JUST TO SHOW THAT THIS IS REAL AND THIS IS DEVASTATING AND THIS IS AFFECTING LOTS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THE MESSAGE THAT YOU WANT TO SEND, SARAH, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO FEEL RAW, AND FOR YOU TO GIVE US YOUR TIME AND TO SHARE YOUR STORY TO VIEWERS ACROSS THE STATE TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE, AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE SHARING IT.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OUR AUDIENCE TONIGHT ABOUT VACCINATIONS AND ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE TOLL THAT COVID CAN TAKE IF YOU BECOME INFECTED?

>> IT'S JUST -- IT'S NOT WORTH RISKING MORE PEOPLE IN YOUR FAMILY OR MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING, BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT BELIEFS ABOUT THE VACCINE, IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO DO THAT, DO SOME OTHER THINGS TO STAY SAFE SO YOU ALSO DON'T PASS IT ON TO OTHER FOLKS.

FOR MY DAD, HE COULD HAVE BEEN INFECTED BY SOMEBODY AT HIS WORK, THE GROCERY STORE, HARDWARE STORE OR EVEN IN CHURCH.

NOBODY KNOWS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SYMPTOMS FOR SEVERAL DAYS EVEN, SO IT COULD HAVE JUST BEEN PASSED ON BY ANYBODY, SO JUST STAY SAFER AND BE SAFE AROUND OTHER PEOPLE, WEAR YOUR MASK WHEN YOU GO OUT.

IF YOU'VE GOT ANY PLANS COMING UP WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN LARGE CROWDS, CANCEL THEM.

WE CAN HAVE FUN AFTER ALL THIS HORRIBLE VIRUS IS OVER.

AND IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING SICK AT ALL, GUEST, AND IF YOU'RE POSITIVE, STAY HOME SO WE CAN GET THE NUMBERS LOW AND GO BACK TO NORMAL.

SO THERE ARE OPTIONS OUT THERE.

WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE SAFER.

AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT FOR YOURSELF, DO IT FOR YOUR FAMILY.

>> SARAH LIM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND THE STORY OF YOUR FATHER, AND OUR WELL WISHES TO YOUR STEPMOTHER AND TO YOUR FAMILY AS YOU GRIEVE DURING THIS TIME.

WE'RE THINKING OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> SO THOSE STORIES ARE HARD TO WATCH AND EVEN HARDER TO LIVE, AND WE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT VACCINES AND WE THANK SARAH FOR SHARING WITH US EARLIER TODAY.

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE THIS IS A QUESTION THAT I EVEN HAVE AS SOMEONE WHO IS HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

THIS PERSON FROM SCOTT COUNTY ASKS, THEY SAY THEY'RE IMMUNE COMPROMISED AND HAD THE SECOND OF TWO MODERNA VACCINES IN EARLY APRIL.

SHOULD THIS PERSON GET THE THIRD VACCINE OF MODERNA OR CAN THEY GET PFIZER VACCINE INSTEAD IF THAT'S WHAT'S AVAILABLE?

SO THIS MIX MATCHING OF VACCINES, YOU KNOW, BOOSTERS, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

AND IS IT OKAY TO TAKE WHATEVER IS AVAILABLE, DR. THORNTON?

>> SO I THINK THERE'S AGAIN -- THERE'S A LOT WE DON'T KNOW, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD ENCOURAGE LISTENERS AND EVERYONE TO BE IS NIMBLE.

BE NIMBLE AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS.

BE WILLING, YOU KNOW, TO HEAR INFORMATION AND REALIZE WE KNOW -- WE MIGHT KNOW SOMETHING TODAY OR WE MIGHT NOT BUT WE MAY KNOW MORE EVEN TOMORROW ORT NEXT DAY.

RIGHT NOW WHAT WE KNOW IS THE BEST CHOICE WOULD BE TO GET WHATEVER YOU GOT BEFORE.

SO IF YOU GOT THE PFIZER, GO AHEAD AND GET THE PFIZER AS YOUR BOOSTER.

OR IF YOU GOT THE MODERNA, GET THAT WHEN THAT'S AVAILABLE.

>> WHEN THAT'S AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT QUITE AVAILABLE YET.

DO WE KNOW THE TIMELINE ON THAT?

>> WE DON'T, BUT I DID SEE THAT I BELIEVE IT'S GOING UP TO THE FDA IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, SOMETIMES, BECAUSE WE'RE NOW IN OCTOBER.

I WAS GOING TO SAY IN OCTOBER BUT WE'RE IN OCTOBER.

SO IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO GO UP TO THE FDA AND ALSO, GOOD NEWS, THE CHILDREN, PFIZER WILL BE -- I BELIEVE IT'S PFIZER THAT GOING TO BE PUTTING OUT INFORMATION TO TRY TO GET THE YOUNGER CHILDREN GET THAT APPROVED AS WELL FOSTER FOR THE FIRST CHILD.

SO I DO THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

I'M GLAD THAT PERSON -- I THINK YOU SAID THEY WERE IMMUNOCOMPRISED.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT TO MAKE HERE, IS THAT OUR FOLKS THAT ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, THEIR RESPONSE TO THE VIRUS, TO THE VACCINE, WHILE THEY MAY RESPOND AND BUILD ANTIBODIES, IT MATE NOT BE EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD PREDICT IN A NORMALLY HEALTHY PERSON, AND THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS.

IT'S NOT THAT THE VACCINE ISN'T WORKING.

IT'S JUST THAT THAT PERSON MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH IMMUNITY AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, FULLY IMMUNE TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT IT OFF.

AND THE OTHER POINT TO MAKE ABOUT THE VACCINES IS THAT THE VACCINES ARE REALLY DESIGNED TO PREVENT HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH, SO THOSE ARE THE WINS.

YOU KNOW, YOU MAY STILL GET INFECTED, BUT OUR GOAL IS FOR YOU NOT TO BE HOSPITALIZED AND HAVE SEVERE ILLNESS AND NOT TO DIE.

>> BUT WE HAVE HEARD OF THOSE BREAKTHROUGH CASES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED DIDN'T MAKE IT.

DR. /SENATOR BERG, CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT?

A LEGISLATOR, FORMER LEGISLATOR WE KNOW OF SUCCUMBED TO COVID AFTER HAVING BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

SO I MEAN, THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE DEATH IS THE OUTCOME EVEN IF ALL MEASURES AVAILABLE WERE TAKEN TO PREVENT IT.

>> I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE WATCHING US THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS VIRUS.

THIS VIRUS CAN AND DOES KILL PEOPLE.

IT CAN AND DOES KILL PEOPLE EVEN WHEN THEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

AND I KNOW THAT FOR ME PERSONALLY THE LAST NIGHT OF OUR EXTRAORDINARY SESSION I GOT A CALL THAT A CO-WORKER OF MINE HAD DIED FROM COVID EVEN THOUGH HE WAS FULLY VACCINATED, AND NOT ONLY WHAT IS HE A CO-WORKER, HE WAS A SURGEON, HE HAD WEAN CHIEF SURGEON AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL FOR MANY YEARS, AND FOR ME THAT WAS EXTREMELY PERSONAL, EXTREMELY PERSONAL BECAUSE HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY SESSION WHERE I PERSONALLY FEEL THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT DO WHAT THEY COULD HAVE TO PREVENT A DISEASE SPREADING IN THE STATE AND TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

AND WHEN OUR OWN ARE DYING, WHEN WE CAN'T KEEP OUR OWN ALIVE, GUYS, LET ME TELL YOU, WE'RE NO GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP YOU ALIVE.

YOU HAVE TO TRUST THE SKIES.

AND ONE THING THAT HASN'T BEEN SAID I DON'T THINK CLEARLY ENOUGH IS THIS MESSENGER RNA VACCINE, THIS -- THE WAY WE DEVELOPED THIS VACCINE, EVERYBODY SAYS OH, IT'S SO FAST, IT COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE SAFE, THERE'S NO -- IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO DO THIS IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

THE TRUTH IS WE HAD THE TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAD DEVELOPED THIS TECHNOLOGY YEARS AGO.

AND WE WERE WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME TO USE IT.

SO IT WAS A GODSEND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET A VACCINE THIS QUICKLY.

WE HAVE NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANKIND BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS.

WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET A VACCINE WITH THIS DEGREE OF EFFICACY OUT AND AVAILABLE TO BE PUT INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS THIS QUICKLY.

AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE RUSHED THE PROCESS.

IT'S BECAUSE WE WERE PREPARED FOR THIS.

WE HAVE HAD SIMILAR OUTBREAKS HAPPEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING.

WE KNEW IT WAS A POTENTIALITY.

AND THAT IS WHAT ALLOWS AS A COUNTRY, AS A WORLD TO COME UP WITH AN EFFICACIOUS VACCINE AS QUICKLY AS WE DID.

NOW I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT THE ORIGINAL QUESTION WAS.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

I THINK YOU ANSWERED.

YEAH, SENATOR ALVARADO, I WANT TO GO TO YOU VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A QUESTION FROM SANDRA PORTER IN GEORGETOWN ASKING YOU SPECIFICALLY WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SENATOR RAND PAUL'S RESISTANCE TO THE VACCINE.

AND WE HAVE OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WHO HAVE ALSO SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE VACCINE BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN INFECTED WITH COVID, AND THIS LEADS US TO THE NEXT DISCUSSION POINT ABOUT NATURAL OR ACQUIRED IMMUNITY VERSUS VACCINATION WHICH PROVIDES THE GREATER PROTECTION.

>> SO I TELL PEOPLE -- JUST ON DR. BERG'S POINT REALLY QUICKLY, IF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MESSENGER RNA VACCINES, THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS MORE OF A TRADITIONAL VACCINE SO THAT'S MORE LIKE YOUR TYPICAL FLUE SHOT.

IT'S ONE INJECTION.

I GET A LOT OF FOLKS AFRAID OF TAKING MULTIPLE SHOTS.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS A MORE TRADITIONAL VACCINE.

>> ISN'T IT LESS FECK THAN PFIZER OR MODERNA?

>> SO THINK IT IS.

IT'S GOT GOOD RESULTS, AND IT'S A ONE-TIME SHOT.

I THINK IT IS TAKES AN IDENTITYO VIRUS.

KIND OF WHAT WE DO WITH FLU SHOTS EVERY YEAR.

IF PEOPLE ARE NERVOUS ABOUT THE MESSENGER RNA, WE'RE USING A MORE TRADITIONAL VACCINE, JOHNSON & JOHNSON.

AS TO THE POINT OF WHY SOME PEOPLE MAY BE GETTING INFECTIONS AFTER BEING VACCINATED, NOTHING IS 100%.

SO WE ARE 92 TO 96 PERCENT EFFECTIVE DEPENDING GO TO STUDIES YOU LOOK AT THE THIS IS SOMETHING CALLED NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES THAT PEOPLE DEVELOP THROUGH VACCINATION OR AN INFECTION.

IF YOU HAVE AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE, PEOPLE THINK I'VE HAD THE INFECTION.

I'M PROTECTED.

MAYBE.

IF YOU ARE REINFECTED, WE DO KNOW THAT.

PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE HAVE HAD INFECTIONS FROM IT.

I THINK A LOT OF IT COMES DOWN TO YOUR NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODY LEVEL SO PEOPLE GET THOSE DRAWN, HOW HIGH OF A LEVEL IS ADEQUATE COVERAGE FOR THAT.

WE DON'T KNOW.

THERE WAS A WHITE PAPER RECENTLY PRODUCED IN AUSTRALIA THAT WENT WITH THE 20th PERCENTILE.

A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAD INFECTIONS, IT MIGHT ENCOURAGE THEM NOT JUST TO HAVE A FINGER STICK TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANTIBODIES PRESENT, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH ANTIBODIES TO COVER THE INFECTION OR NOT.

>> WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN A DETERRENT FOR VACCINATIONS, THOUGH?

>> I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE ENCOURAGED VACCINATION.

I THINK PEOPLE WHO GO OUT AND THINK I'M ALREADY INFECTED.

I'M OKAY.

Y MEASURE'S TUTU LOW, ORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE VACCINE IT MIGHT SHOW YOU NEED A POSTER.

TEM PEOPLE THAT PRESENTED IN OUR COMMITTEE PRESENTED A STUDY OF PEOPLE IN ASSISTANT LIVING FACILITIES.

100 PEOPLE.

A THIRD OF THEM DIDN'T HAVE NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES.

THEY NEEDED BOOSTERS.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO GERT LEVELED CHECKED.

>> DOES IT SAY HOW LONG THAT IMMUNITY LASTS, THOUGH?

>> NO, WE DON'T KNOW.

I'LL GIVE YOU MY EXAMPLE.

I WAS INFECTED, I DO NURSING HOMEWORK, AS PEOPLE KNOW, AND I GO SEE PATIENTS LIVE AND WE HAD A BIG ROUT OUTBREAKS LAST SUMMER, AND I DID ALL THE PROPER GEAR, GASHED UP.

I CAME DOWN WITH THE VIRUS IN NOVEMBER BEFORE THE VACCINES CAME OUT.

I WAS PRETTY SICK.

I WAS AT HOME HUNKERED DOWN.

I KNEW WHAT I HAD.

FEVER FOR EIGHT CASE.

IF YOU KNOW WE, I'M A HIGH ENERGY GUY.

MOST PEOPLE IN FRANKFORT KNOW JAIME HIGH ENERGY GUY.

TO LAY A COUCH FOR 12 DAYS SOLID SOLID MY WIFE WAS GETTING NERVOUS.

MY OXYGEN LEVELS WAS GOOD.

AFTER 12 DAISIES WA UP AND AT THEM.

NURSING FACILITIES WERE STARTING TO ROLL OUT THE VACCINES SAID.

SIGN ME UP AND I WENT AHEAD AND TOOK THE PFIZER SHOT, GOT MY SECOND AND I'VE HAD MY BOOSTER SINCE THEN.

PEOPLE WONDER IS IT SAFE TO DO THAT?

I'M A CASE IN POINT WHERE IT IS SAFE TO DO THAT.

ALL IT DOES IS -- >> RAMPS IT UP.

>> -- RAMPS UP YOUR ANTIBODY LEVELS SO THERE'S EXTRA PROTECTION.

>> THERE IS NO HARM FROM THAT.

>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN HARM FROM IT.

WE KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD IT AND HAVE VACCINES HAVE REALLY, REALLY HIGH ANTIBODY LEVELS AND ARE WELL PROTECTED.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOUR BODY WAS ALREADY PRIMED.

>> ME YES.

>> SO THE TWO-SHOT VACCINES, YOU GET THE FIRST ONE, THAT'S PUTTING IN IT THERE, NOT THE VIRUS ACTUALLY IN THERE BUT THAT'S PUTTING IT THERE FOR YOU TO BE PRIME FOR THE NEXT TIME.

HE WAS ALREADY PRIMED, AND HE PROBABLY HAD A BEAUTIFUL RESPONSE.

HE HAD IT.

THEN HE GOT THE VACCINE.

SO YOU PROBABLY -- YOU PROBABLY HAD SOME SIDE EFFECTS.

>> I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HEAD ACHE, MUSCLE ACHES.

I HAD A LOW GRADE TEMPERATURE FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS AND IT WENT AWAY AND THAT WAS THE EXTENT OF WHAT I HAD.

EVERY TIME I TOOK THE SHOT, I HAD THAT KIND OF RESPONSE.

I WANT TO SAY IT'S SAFE.

DR. PAUL IS A PHYSICIAN AS WELL.

HE'S GOT THE INFECTION.

HE'S HAD HIS ANTIBODIES MEASURED.

HE'S DETAINED HIS PLASMA FOR ANTIBODY INFUSIONS FOR OTHERS.

THE QUESTION I US J HAVE IS HOW LONG DOES THAT ANTIBODY RESPONSE LAST.

WE KNOW SOME STUDIES SAY EIGHT MONTHS IT.

STARTS TO WANE AFTER TAPE SUSPECT WE'RE GOING TO SEE NEW VARIANTS AND MUTATIONS LIKE THE FLUE.

>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BOOSTERS.

EVERY YEAR WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT GETTING FLU SHOTS AND EVIDENCE SHOTS.

>> CAN YOU GET THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

>> JEB YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN.

WHEN WE WERE STARTING TO DO THE VACCINES, WE TOLD PEOPLE NOT TEAK ANOTHER VACCINE WITH THE COVID VACCINE.

IT WAS NEW, RIGHT?

SO WE DIDN'T KNOW.

BUT NOW WE HAVE LOTS OF SAFETY DATA, AND SO WE ARE IN OUR PRACTICE, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY DOING IT, TOO, WE ARE GIVING, IF EV THEY NEVER HAD COVID, WE'RE GIVING THE COVID AND THE FLUE, IF THEY'RE WILLING.

>> IF THEY'RE WILLING.

ONE INNER EACH ARM.

>> ONE IN N. EACH ARM.

>> I THINK A LOT OF US WOULD SAY SIGN US UP.

>> IF I COULD JUMP IN JUST REAL QUICKLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WORRY FIRST OF ALL, DR. ALVARADO, I HAVE THE SAME EXACT EXPERIENCE WHERE I, TOO, HAD COVID, I GOT VACCINATED WITH THE PFIZER, I HAVE NOW HAD MY BOOSTER.

WHAT THE DATA SEEMS TO BE SHOWING, AND MOST OF THE DATA ON THIS IS FROM THE PFIZER VACCINE AND FROM THE POPULATION ISRAEL WHERE THEY HAVE A LARGE SORT OF UNIFORM HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, SO THEY HAVE ACCESS, AND ALL OF THIS IS RETROSPECTIVE REINTERVIEWS THEY'RE BASICALLY SAYING UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE VIRUS, A NATIVE INFECTION AND SUBSEQUENTLY GET VACCINATED, THEIR IMMUNE RESPONSE IS BY FAR STRONGER THAN IF THEY JUST HAVE THE NATIVE INFECTION, AND THE BEST THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AT THIS POINT.

AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS DO NOT GO OUT AND GET INFECTED TO PLAN TO BOOSTER YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS THING TO DO.

BUT THE DATA AND THE FDA AND THE CDC, EVERYBODY AT THIS POINT IS CLEAR THAT A NATIVE INFECTION ALONE IS NOT ADEQUATE.

THERE ARE SOME COUNTRIES THAT ARE GOING WITH THE SINGLE DOSE VACCINE.

52 IF YOU'VE HAD A NATIVE INFECTION HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN COUNTRIES LIKE ISRAEL STILL RECOMMENDING AT LEAST A DOUBLE DOSE VACCINE, BUT TO SAY, ANDNESS SOMETHING -- I HAVE NIECES AND NEPHEWS ACROSS THE STATE WHO SAY, I DON'T NEED TO BE VACCINATED.

I'VE ALREADY HAD IT.

FIRST OF ALL, YOUR IMMUNITY FROM THAT NATIVE INFECTION IS GOING TO WANE.

IT WILL NOT LAST YOU.

AND SECOND OF ALL, YOUR IMMUNITY, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND GET A VACCINE ON TOP OF YOUR ALREADY NATIVE INFECTION WILL BE THE BEST IMMUNITY THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY HAVE.

>> HOW LONG SHOULD YOU WAIT -- >> BY FAR -- >> HOW LONG SHOULD YOU WAIT, DR. BERG, BEFORE YOU GET A SHOT IF YOU'VE BEEN INFECTED COVID?

SHOULD YOU WAIT A FEW WEEKS, MOWS?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT, CERTAINLY WE CAN'T VACCINATE YOU IF YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE INFECTION, AND WE DON'T WANT TO VACCINATE YOU IF YOU'RE CONTAGIOUS AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE QUARANTINED, SO WE NEED YOU TO STAY HOME UNTIL YOU'RE SAFE TO GO OUT, AND THEN WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE SAYING IS THAT YOU'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD DEGREE OF NAVY MUTANT FOR NAVY MUTANT FOR 90 DAYS.

IS THAT WRONG?

CORRECT ME.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT THAT'S WHAT THE CDC WAS ADVOCATING INITIALLY, AND I THINK PART OF IT MAY HAVE ALSO BEEN JURIES BECAUSE OF HAVING ENOUGH VACCINES FOR EVERYBODY, MAYBE THAT.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, INITIALLY.

BUT NOW THEY'RE ACTUALLY SAYING THAT AS SOON AS YOU GET OUT OF, AND THIS IS NEWER IN THE THE LAST -- OUT OF ISOLATION, AFTER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR MODS, AFTER ISOLATION YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR VACCINE.

PEOPLE MAY NOT FEEL SO GOOD SO THEY MAY WANT TO IT AWAY A LITTLE BIT IF THEY'RE NOT FEELING GREAT.

BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM, TOO, SUING FEEL WELL AND OUT OF ISOLATION GO AHEAD AND GET IT DONE.

IF I COULD.

>> SURE, DOCTOR.

>> ONE OTHER THING WITH THE ANTILONELY ANTIBODY, I KNOW THAT'S NOT VACCINES, THAT'S TREATMENT, BUT THAT IS STILL YOU WAIT THREE MONTHS BUS IT MIGHT HAVE SOME INTERACTIONS WITH THE VACCINE AND IT WON'T BE AS FULLY EFFECTIVE.

>> SO I DO WANT TO GO TO THAT MONOCLONAL TREATMENT BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A SURGE IN DEMAND FOR THAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF TREATMENT.

LAST WEEK FIVE FEDERAL MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INJECTION TEAMS ARRIVED IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

THEY ARE STATIONED A FIVE HONEST INCLUDING BAPTIST NORTH CORBIN AND ON SATURDAY WE TALKED WITH THE HOSPITAL'S MANAGER AND HE DESCRIBED THE TREATMENT AND WHY IT IS SO POPULAR.

>> FOR THE COVID ANTIBODY MICHELANGELOS TREATMENT IT IS LIKE AN ARTIFICIAL ANDERSON BODY THAT IS CREATED AND CREATED IN A LAB.

IT'S INFUSED TO THE PATIENT.

IT SOMEWHAT MIMICS OUR NATURAL ANTIBODIES THAT BASICALLY FIGHT OFF COVID.

AS YOU NOTICED, THE SURGE HAPPENED PROBABLY DURING AUGUST, SEPTEMBER.

WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF REQUESTS WE WERE GETTING.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT WAS DUE TO THE INCREASED NUMBER OF COVID CASES THAT WAS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS I THINK WHEN PROVIDERS STARTED, YOU KNOW, ORDERING IT, THEY ALSO NOTICED THAT IT DID HELP THEIR PATIENTS, SO THEY STARTED SENDING MORE AND MORE PATIENTS.

PERHAPS OVER THE LAST WEEK I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, OUR SURGE HAS PEEKED AND STARRED GOING DOWN ON THE PACK DIED.

SO THIS WEEK WE'VE SEEN A SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE AMENDMENT REQUESTS.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THE VACCINE.

AND FOR SOME REASON VACCINES, PEOPLE TEND TO BE HESITANT TO SOME DEGREE ANYWAY.

WHEREAS WITH MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INFUSIONS, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY MISINFORMATION, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO THERE'S REALLY NO -- WHEN SOMEONE GETS COVID AND A PROVIDER OFFERS THEM, YOU KNOW, HEY, WE CAN GET YOU THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENT THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BACKGROUND MISINFORMATION TO GO OFF OF ON SAY, HEY, I DON'T WANT THAT WHERE DOES THEY DO WITH THE VACCINES.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT TO THE DOCTORS AND TO ALLISON ADAMS ABOUT BELIEVING IN A TREATMENT BUT NOT BELIEVING IN THEY PREVENTION TOOL, AND SO PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT AND SOMEONE WHOSE BEEN IN THIS FIELD FOR A LONG TIME, HOW DOES WHAT MR.

BOWLING SHARED WITH US SIT WITH YOU?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, BEING IN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR 21 YEARS, YOU KNOW, THE PREVENTION IS ALWAYS OUR MESSAGE, LIKE WE KNOW WE CAN PREVENT IT EVEN IF THERE IS A TREATMENT OUT THERE, WE HAVE SHORTAGES OF TREATMENT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE SHORTAGES OF THE PREVENTION.

AND FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, FOR MANY YEARS THE PREVENTION IS THE PRIMARY TREATMENT, IF YOU WILL, IF YOU WANT TO NEVER GET IT.

AND SO HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS AND PREPARE FOLKS FOR PREVENTING ILLNESS AND NOT SO MUCH RELYING ON THE TREATMENT.

AND IT'S -- IT'S AN AGE OLD THING THAT PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN BATTLING FOR MANY YEARS.

WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR TREATMENT.

BUT SOMEHOW THAT TRUMPS THE PREVENTION PIECE.

AND HOW DO WE REALLY CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON, YES, WE HAVE TREATMENT, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR THAT, BUT LET'S NOT FOREGO THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

>> AND MAYBE IT SHOULD BE CLARIFIED, EMPHASIZED, DR. ALVARADO AND DR. THORNTON AND DR. BERG, THAT MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENTS ARE NOT A CURE.

>> IT'S NOT A CURE BUT I'LL TELL YOU ALSO PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A CC HAVE FLUID BEING INJECTED INTO THEIR ARM.

THIS IS A BAG OF ARTIFICIAL ANTIBODIES THAT'S BEING INFUSED INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM.

AND SO PEOPLE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THIS CC.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING -- IT'S ARTIFICIAL ALSO.

IT'S SPILL EXPERIMENTAL THERAPY ALSO SO THERE'S CONCERNS.

DR. BERG MADE A GOD POINT ON THE MORE OF THE SNOOT ABOUT THE COST.

IT'S $34, $35 FOR A VACCINE.

IT'S ABOUT $3,000 FOR A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INFUSION.

SO THE CORRESPONDS MUCH HIGHER.

SO WE TALK ABOUT COSTS OF HEALTH CARE I MEAN IT'S 100 TIMES MORE AS FAR AS THE COST FOR THIS, AND SO I REMIND PEOPLE NOW THAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THAT CC VACCINE AND WHAT THE FEDEX GOING TO BE.

THESE ARE THE ANTIBODIES THAT ARE ARTIFICIALLY MANUFACTURED.

WHAT DO THEY HAVE ON YOUR SYSTEM?

WE DON'T KNOW THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THOSE, EITHER.

I.

SO I REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT THAT.

YOU HEAR THAT.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S ALWAYS A PREVENTION PIECE, A TREATMENT PIECE, AND YOU WORK ON PREVENTION.

WHEN PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE IT, AGAIN, AND I REMIND A LOT OF FOLKS NOT TO JUDGE PEOPLE BASED ON WHETHER THEY'VE GOTTEN IT OR NOT GOTTEN IT.

ONCE THEY'VE GOT IT, AS DOCTORS WE SAY HOW DO WE TREAT THIS.

GETTING REGENERON OUT TO THE HOSPITAL THAT IS ALREADY STRESSED TO ITS LIMITS.

IT'S HELPED TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

I'M SAD WE'VE SEEN LIMITS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT I'M HOPING WE CAN LOOSEN IT UP AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE AS WELL.

THE RISKS YOU TAKE BY CATCHING THE INFECTION AND TRYING TO DEVELOP NATURAL IMMUNITY OR RELYING ON AN ARTIFICIAL EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT TREATMENT OR FREMONT TREATMENT AND IS ON AI I'M GOING TO TAKE THE MIXES OF THAT INSTEAD OF TAKE TECH PREVENTION, I THINK AT THE PREVENTION BY FAR MATHEMATICALLY OUTWEIGHS YOUR RISK.

IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO DO IT THAT WAY.

>> DR. BERG, I REMEMBER YOU MAKING THAT POINT ON THE SENATE FLOOR DURING THE EXTRAORDINARY SESSION.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU CARE TO ADD OR DID DR. ALVARADO MAKE YOUR POINTS FOR YOU?

>> NO, I THINK HE BASICALLY MADE MY POINT FOR ME.

BUT THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND, GUYS, IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON USING THESE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES INSTEAD LIKE YOU SAY, OKAY I'M NOT GOING TO GET VACCINATED, I'M GOING TO TAKE MY CHANCES, IF I GET SICK, THESE ANTIBODIES ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO ME AND I WON'T END UP IN THE HOSPITAL AND I WON'T END UP DYING.

THE ROAM PROBLEM WITH THAT THOUGHT PROCESS RIGHT THERE IS THAT FIRST OF ALL, THE TIME PERIOD THAT THESE ANTIBODIES WORK IN IS LIMITED, AND SECOND OF ALL, EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE ANTIBODIES IS LIMITED.

ANY OF A YOU ALL THAT LISTENED TO OUR GOVERNOR AT 4:00 TODAY, LAST WEEK WE DIDN'T RECEIVE A SINGLE GHOST IN THIS STATE.

NOT ONE DOSE CAME TO US.

THIS WEEK WE'RE CATCHING BACK UP.

BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN RELY ON IN CASE, OH, DOWN THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, WELL, MAYBE I MADE A MISTAKE.

THIS IS GOING TO CATCH MY BACK.

IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

IT'S NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

THE ANSWER, THE ANSWER, THE ANSWER, GUYS, IS GETTING VACCINATED.

THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO KEEP YOU SAFE.

THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND CHURCH MEMBERS SAFE.

AND THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY HEAL.

SO THANK YOU.

>> DR. THORNTON, YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT.

>> TOTALLY ECHO, COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES AND BEHIND ME OR IN FRONT OF ME, WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING.

I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK HOPEFULLY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THAT IT IS SAFE.

WE PROBABLY HAVE MORE DATA ON THESE VACCINES THAN WE HAVE ON OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE GIVEN.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT MORE.

WE'VE DEBATED IT MORE.

SO I HOPE PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT THEY'RE SAFE.

THEY'RE EFFECTIVE.

EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD SOME BREAKTHROUGHS THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECENT SURGE WE HAD JUST IN THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, ALMOST ALL OF THE CASES WE HAD, 85, 88 PERCENT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE HOSPITAL, THEY ONE VACCINATED.

THE LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE UNVACCINATED.

PEOPLE ON THE VENTILATOR, THE LARGE AMOUNT OF THEM, LIKE 90-SOME PERCENT OF THEM WERE UNVACCINATED.

TRUE, WE DID HAVE BREAKTHROUGHS.

IT WAS USUALLY VERY SEVERELY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PEOPLE, AND JUST A PLUG, YOU KNOW, GET THE VACCINE, BUT IF YOU DON'T, THEN DO REACH OUT TO YOUR PROVIDER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU DO GET COVID AND GET SOME HELP.

MAYBE YOU'LL GET THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY OR AT LEAST BE MONITORED.

DON'T JUST STAY HOME BY YOURSELF WITHOUT REACHING OUT FOR HELP.

>> THIS QUESTION FROM GAIL RE OR RHEA FROM GALLON VERT CITY, HOW CAN SMALLER HEALTH CARE FACILITIES OFFER THE VACCINE WITHOUT HIGH QUALITY REFRIGERATION OR IS THAT STILL A REQUIREMENT.

>> SO THAT'S A TOPIC THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING I'VE TALKED A LOT OF INFECTION DISEASE CONSCIOUS, PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS.

YOU HAVE A HARD TIME STORING PFIZER AND MODERNA.

THEY HAVE TO BE AT VERY, VERY COLD TEMPERATURES.

HOWEVER, JOHNSON & JOHNSON CAN BE STORED LIKE A FLU SHOT.

THE DIFFICULTY THERE HAS BEEN PAPERWORK, BUREAUCRACY FOR OUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS TO GET THAT.

IT'S ACHE LIKE A 20-PAGE PAMPHLET.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

THAT NEEDS TO BE LOSEN UP.

IF YOU CAN GET THIS INTO DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND GET THE J&J INTO THE DOCTORS' OFFICE, INSTEAD OF SENDING YOU TO THE FARNELL IS I, AND PEOPLE SAY I'VE GOT SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GO AND NEVER GET THERE, PULL IT OUT REFRIGERATOR AND GET IT DONE.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE BEGINNING.

THE POINT OF WHERE THESE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED WOULD HAVE BEEN IN DOCTOR'S OFFICES IN MY OPINION FROM THE BEGINNING.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER.

STILL IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THESE IN DOCTOR'S OFFICES.

WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT.

>> REAL QUICKLY ON FRIDAY DRUGMAKER MERCK HAD ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAVE AN EXPERIMENTAL PULL FOR PEOPLE SICK WITH COVID THAT THEY SAY CAN REDUCE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS BY HALF.

HOW OPTIMISTIC ARE YOU ABOUT THIS, DR. THORNTON, AND THIS DATA THERE TO APPROVE THIS IS SAFE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE CAN BE VERY EXCITED BECAUSE THE STUDY, I BELIEVE, WAS STOPPED EARLY BECAUSE THE DATA LOOKED SO GOOD, SO THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD SIGN.

IT REMIND ME BACK WITH HIV, THE EARLY STUDIES WITH AZT AND PREGNANT MOMS, IT WAS STOPPED EARLY BECAUSE THE DATA LOOKED SO GOOD, SO I HAVEN'T DUG INTO THOSE PRELIMINARY DATA OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SIGN I THINK THAT THEY'VE STOPPED IT BECAUSE -- NOT BECAUSE ANYTHING WAS WRONG BUT, OOH, WE NEED TO PUSH THIS OUT.

>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE WOULD THINK THEY STOPPED THE DATA EARLY SO THAT US IN BE A SIGNAL THAT SOMETHING HAS GONE WRY BUT YOU'RE SAYING THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.

DR. BERG, DO YOU HAVE A QUICK COMMENT FOR 30 SECOND AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO GO.

>> NO.

I THINK THIS IS VERY EXCITING.

THEY DID STOP THE STUDY EARLY.

AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF IT PANS OUT, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY EXCITING DATA, AND THERE IS -- AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG 18 MONTHS FOR ALL OF US, AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN FOREVER, FOREVER, BUT I THINK PEOPLE DO HAVE TO REMEMBER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO END ON A SOMEWHAT HAPPY NOTE.

>> QUICKLY.

>> THE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN.

OUR POSITIVITY RATE.

WE ARE AT THIS POINT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND IF AS A SOCIETY, AS A COMMUNITY WE ALL COME TOGETHER AND WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT EACH OTHER, WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT OURSELVES, WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT THE SCIENTISTS AND THE DOCTORS, WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS.

>> GOOD WORDS TO END ON.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE THIS GOOD CIVIL DISCUSSION, LOTS OF INFORMATION.

WE HOPE YOU'VE LEARNED A LOT AS WELL.

JOIN BILL BRYANT AND A TEAM OF WORKING JOURNALISTS FRIDAY FOR A RECAP OF THE NEWS OF THE WEEK ON "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

UNTIL I SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY, TAKE GOOD CARE