PHOTO - J.T. Henderson
Coming to Danville to check on the new regional vaccination site at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center had special significance for Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman.
“I wanted to go and say thank you to all of the health care workers who have borne this burden the last year but have also set up a system to get us out of this pandemic,” said Coleman. “It is pretty remarkable what they have been able to do in such a short time.
“I was born at Ephraim McDowell, so that place is very special to me as is making sure rural Kentuckians are getting all the help they need.”
Coleman was impressed that Ephraim McDowell’s system is so efficient that it can “distribute as many vaccines in one day as it is allowed for one week.” She says the challenge now is to get more vaccines available for the regional vaccination site.
“There is so much need, which is good because it means people are seeking the vaccine,” Coleman said. “We set up regional systems to help alleviate the strain on even larger systems and not overwhelm anyone.”
She says making it easier for older Kentuckians to get a vaccine without driving a long distance helps them but also lessens the demand on sites in Lexington and Louisville.
“If it is possible to get more vaccines, you can bet your bottom dollar our governor is going to make it happen,” she said. “He’s going to find a way to make sure we can increase the volume. The whole key to getting out of this thing is getting people vaccinated.”
Both Coleman and Gov. Andy Beshear got the COVID vaccine to show their belief in what the vaccine can do.
Coleman is also secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet and knows COVID has created numerous hardships for education in the last 11 months. She insists there have been bright spots to hold on to but also things that cannot happen again like inequities in broadband service and technology in certain areas.
“A silver lining hopefully is that missing out on face to face instruction, and nothing replaces that classroom experience and relationship with a teacher, has made kids have to become more responsible and more independent. If they don’t know something, they have to understand to ask questions and advocate for themselves. Those are skills we can move forward with.”
Coleman’s coping mechanism during this pandemic has been coming home to her daughter, Evelyn, who will soon be one year old.
“It’s a nice way for me to step away from work, relax and then go back to work (as Lt. Gov.),” Coleman said.
Coleman is a former high school and college basketball player as well as a high school coach. Her husband, Chris, is coaching high school basketball now.
She knows the last year has been a struggle for high school sports with sports starting and stopping, athletic budgets having less revenue, scheduling nightmares and keeping players and coaches safe.
“We could have started (basketball) in February and not played the Sweet 16 until May when we had a lot of people with vaccines and things were better,” Coleman said. “But kids are playing, coaches are coaching.
“Parents have always trusted coaches to take care of their kids. High school sports are about so much more than X’s and O’s. The level of trust and care that has gone into this last year of high school sports is way more than it has ever been and I am proud of everyone for doing all they have.”
Now she wants to emphasize better days are coming.
“I really am confident the vaccines are going to be available to a lot more people very soon,” Coleman said. “Be patient and extend grace and know everybody that wants a shot is eventually going to get one.”
