Are you eligible for a second COVID-19 booster? Here's who qualifies in Kentucky

I’M ALWAYS WORRIED EVERY TIME I SEE OUR CASE NUMBERS GO UP DR. VALERIE. BRIONA’S PRYOR OF UOFL HEALTH IS WATCNGHI THOSE CASES CLOSELY. THE POSITIVITY RATE IN KENTUCKY IS NOW MORE THAN SEVEN PERCENT AND JEFFERSON COUNTY IS BACK IN THE YELLOW WITH THE RATE OF 13.5% AND FOR THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES, THE NUMBERS ARE TROUBLING AS THEY REMEMBER THOSE THEY’VE TREATED AND LOST THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND I SAT IN THERE HOLDING. THIS PATIENT’S HANDS WITH FAMILY ON ZOOM UNTIL HE PASSED. I REMEMBER THAT PATIENT THING TO ME LATER. I’M HONORED TO SPEND MY LTAS DAYS WITH YOU GUYS. THEY WERE AMONG THE TEN NURSES TO VOLUNTEERO TTAFF S A COVID UNIT GETTING A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO THE --ND A ISOLATION OF THE VIRUS AS I WAS. LEAVING HE WAS CRYING. AND HE REACHED OUT FOR ME AND HE SAID THESE DON’T LEAVE ME. AND THAT BROKE ME AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC HERE ON THE COVID FLOOR AT JEWISH HOSPITAL EVERY SINGLE ROOM AND THEN SOME UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS WERE FILLED RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE FIVE COVID PATIENTS AND WHILE HOSPITALIZATIONS REMAIN LOW DOCRSTO SAY THEY ARE STILL CONCERNED WITH THESE TRENDS. EREV I HEAR NUMBERS GOING UP. I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF STRESS IN MY HEART THAT I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY,E W WILLO D IT AGAIN IF THAT HAPPENS, BUT IF WEAN C WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE THAT SO WE DON’T HAVE THOSE SURGES WEEE ND TO START NOW. THAT MEANS STAYING HOME IF YOU’RE SICK. THE LATEST STRAIN IS SHOWING UP WITH SYMPTOMS OF FEVER AND CHILLS. YOU ALSO NEED TO KEEP WASHING YOUR HANDS ANDF I IT’S BEEN MORE THAN SIX MONTHS SINCE YOUR BOOSTER CONSIDER ROLLING UP YOUR SLE. ONCE AGAIN, I CAN’T PREACH ENOUGH ABOUT VACCINATIONS. YOU KNOW A LOT OF US GOT VACCINATED A WHILE BACK ANWED GOT TIME TO GET THAT. BOOTH AS FOR THESE NURSES STILL WORKING ON THE COVID FLOOR. THEY’RE HOPING THE NUMBERS WILL TREND DOWN, BUT IF THEY DON’T SINCE WE’VE GOT THIS FOR TWO YEARS, WE’RE READY TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS LORD ADAMS WLKY NEWS LAUREN. THANK YOU WHILE THEY WERE JUST 10 NURSES WHO STAFFED THE COVID

There's a lot of talk about COVID-19 again here in Louisville and Kentucky.It's due to another increase in coronavirus cases due to omicron variants still spreading. It comes after weeks of declines, but health officials are warning people to take precautions ahead of more outdoor gatherings during the summer months.The recent increase has put Jefferson County back in the yellow zone for COVID-19 spread. Meanwhile, Gov. Andy Beshear said Kentucky overall is showing an increase, but added that it's more steady than previous surges. He said the increase could also go back down sooner.Another increase: Louisville health care workers brace for another COVID-19 surgeSo with another increase in mind, many officials are bringing up the topic of boosters again. The message from many in the health care industry is for people who are eligible, to get their boosters if they haven't yet.This would be the second booster since vaccines were introduced. The first booster — after the two-dose or one-dose COVID-19 vaccine — was encouraged last fall amid the spread of the delta variant, which also then helped curb the omicron variant.So who is eligible for a second booster in Kentucky? Here's what we found out:While state and local officials, along with doctors and nurses, are encouraging people to get their second booster, it doesn't mean that everyone is eligible, at this time.According to the Kentucky COVID-19 website, the second booster dose of the mRNA vaccine is first only available to people four months after their first booster.(Click here to download the chart from Kentucky Public Health)Then, those who qualify are divided up into three groups.Immunocompromised individuals:These are people 12 and older who have a weakened immune system. This means those receiving active cancer treatment, have received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system, and those with advanced or untreated HIV infection.It also includes people who have had to use certain types of medicines for a long time, like corticosteroids, which weakened their immune system. Click here for more information.According to Kentucky Public Health, individuals 12 to 17 are only eligible for the Pfizer booster in this category.Primary or first booster was from Johnson&Johnson:This category applies to people 18 to 49 who may have received the Johnson & Johnson primary vaccine or booster. These individuals will instead receive an mRNA dose at least four months after the first booster dose.Individuals 50 years and older:This category applies to people 50 and older who had their first booster four months ago from either Moderna or Pfizer.COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available all across Kentucky. Click here to find a location.The state COVID-19 website also has more information on when you are considered "up-to-date" on your vaccines.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

There's a lot of talk about COVID-19 again here in Louisville and Kentucky.

It's due to another increase in coronavirus cases due to omicron variants still spreading. It comes after weeks of declines, but health officials are warning people to take precautions ahead of more outdoor gatherings during the summer months.

The recent increase has put Jefferson County back in the yellow zone for COVID-19 spread. Meanwhile, Gov. Andy Beshear said Kentucky overall is showing an increase, but added that it's more steady than previous surges. He said the increase could also go back down sooner.

Another increase: Louisville health care workers brace for another COVID-19 surge

So with another increase in mind, many officials are bringing up the topic of boosters again. The message from many in the health care industry is for people who are eligible, to get their boosters if they haven't yet.

This would be the second booster since vaccines were introduced. The first booster — after the two-dose or one-dose COVID-19 vaccine — was encouraged last fall amid the spread of the delta variant, which also then helped curb the omicron variant.

So who is eligible for a second booster in Kentucky? Here's what we found out:

While state and local officials, along with doctors and nurses, are encouraging people to get their second booster, it doesn't mean that everyone is eligible, at this time.

According to the Kentucky COVID-19 website, the second booster dose of the mRNA vaccine is first only available to people four months after their first booster.

(Click here to download the chart from Kentucky Public Health)

Then, those who qualify are divided up into three groups.

Immunocompromised individuals:

These are people 12 and older who have a weakened immune system. This means those receiving active cancer treatment, have received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system, and those with advanced or untreated HIV infection.

It also includes people who have had to use certain types of medicines for a long time, like corticosteroids, which weakened their immune system. Click here for more information.

According to Kentucky Public Health, individuals 12 to 17 are only eligible for the Pfizer booster in this category.

Primary or first booster was from Johnson&Johnson:

This category applies to people 18 to 49 who may have received the Johnson & Johnson primary vaccine or booster. These individuals will instead receive an mRNA dose at least four months after the first booster dose.

Individuals 50 years and older:

This category applies to people 50 and older who had their first booster four months ago from either Moderna or Pfizer.

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available all across Kentucky. Click here to find a location.

The state COVID-19 website also has more information on when you are considered "up-to-date" on your vaccines.

Are you eligible for a second COVID-19 booster? Here's who qualifies in Kentucky

TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

So who is eligible for a second booster in Kentucky? Here's what we found out:

Immunocompromised individuals:

Primary or first booster was from Johnson&Johnson:

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