Governor, legislative leaders, chief justice, cabinet secretary, health commissioner, first lady get vaccinated in Capitol rotunda

First lady Britainy Beshear watches as nurse Michelle Searcy
of the Franklin County Health Department gives the governor
a dose of the Moderna vaccine. (Governor's office photos)

By Al Cross
Kentucky Health News

Gov. Andy Beshear, first lady Britainy Beshear, state Senate President Robert Stivers, House Speaker David Osborne, Health Commissioner Steven Stack and other officials took vaccinations for the novel coronavirus in the rotunda of the state Capitol this morning.

The event showed "broad, bipartisan support for the safe, effective Covid-19 vaccination," a news release from Beshear's office said. It said the Beshears' two children, aged 11 and 10, will be vaccinated when a vaccine is approved for children.

“I would not risk my life or the life of my family, which I love more than life itself, if I didn’t believe this vaccine was safe and highly effective,” Beshear said. “These vaccines are a gift and our best vehicle to end this evil pandemic, allow our children and educators to safely return to school and reignite our economy.”

Senate President Robert Stivers gets his vaccination.

The event was an unusual joint effort for the Democratic governor and the leaders of the legislature's heavy Republican majorities, who have criticized his approach to the pandemic and have vowed to limit his emergency powers -- but recently got a briefing, courtesy of Beshear, from the response coordinator of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

In the news release issued by Beshear's office, Stivers said, “The arrival of the Covid-19 vaccine signals an optimistic turning point in our fight against the virus. This bipartisan group of leaders chose to take the vaccine together to send a message that the vaccine is safe and it is crucial for the health and welfare of the commonwealth. The importance of taking the vaccine cannot be overstated, because you are protecting yourself and your fellow Kentuckians. I encourage everyone who is able to get vaccinated when the opportunity arises.” Stivers told reporters afterward that he participated to show "there's no politics in this."

House Speaker David Osborne gets his vaccination.

Osborne said in the release, “As health care workers and medical providers line up to receive theirs, Kentuckians should begin talking to their physicians about their plans to take the vaccine. We are here today because as leaders of all three branches of state government, we know there are those who question whether or not the vaccine is right for them. While it is a personal choice, we have full faith in its safety and supportive of the state’s work to make it available.” 

Chief Justice John Minton gets his vaccination.

Minton said, “I appreciate the governor’s request for the heads of the three branches of government to be vaccinated. I recognize this is a privilege most Americans don’t yet have, but Dr. Steven Stack and the Centers for Disease Control recommended that we get the vaccine to ensure the continuity of state government. I’ve already begun advocating for our judges, circuit clerks and deputy clerks to get the vaccine as soon as they’re eligible based on the federal distribution schedule. They’re essential workers who have frequent contact with the public and we want to ensure their safety as they conduct the important business of the courts.”

Secretary J. Michael Brown gets his shot.

Also vaccinated in the rotunda was J. Michel Brown, secretary of the Executive Cabinet, the office that oversees the executive branch of state government, and Stack, who has been the state's point person for dealing with the pandemic. “I’m grateful that the senior leaders of Kentucky’s government have come together today for a shot of hope and to lead through their example,” Stack said. “These vaccines offer new hope just in time for the holidays that 2021 will bring healthier, happier times.”

Beshear encouraged other elected officials and community leaders, including business executives and faith leaders, to get vaccinated when it is their turn.

Searcy also got her shot, from a colleague.

Asked later why he got a shot when he is the nation's second youngest governor, at 43, and the youngest, Republican Ron DeSantis of Florida, 42, said he would wait because he is under 45, Beshear said the CDC director advised governors in a conference call to get publicly vaccinated as soon as possible "to build confidence" in the vaccines. "There is real hesitancy out there."

Beshear said DeSantis hasn't followed some other CDC recommendations: "Maybe he ought to listen to the CDC director a little bit more."

 

In other coronavirus news Tuesday:

• The pandemic relief and government funding bill includes several provisions for rural health care including a reform of Medicare’s payment formula for rural health clinics, Inside Health Policy reports: "The package ensures no Rural Health Clinic has its reimbursements reduced while phasing in over eight years a steady increase in the Rural Health Clinic statutory cap. All new clinics will be subject to a uniform per-visit cap, and uncapped clinics with payments above the upper limit will have their annual rate of growth controlled."
• Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Thomas Massie, who often split with other Republicans on spending issues, were "outraged" at the bill and voted against it, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.