Chandra DeRamus

Success Story

12/31/22

“Improving Vaccination Confidence in Kentucky with Skip Covid-19 Programs in

Hardin County”

Over the last year in the state of Kentucky the number of people with the covid-19 virus varies based on the county. The covid-19 is caused by the corona virus called SARS CoV-2. Some county numbers with people with the covid-19 virus are higher than others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older adults and people with underlying health conditions like heart disease, lung disease or diabetes seem to be at a higher risk of suffering from more severe complications from the covid-19 illness. According to USA facts in 2022 Kentucky the number of people that were diagnosed with covid19 was about 1,653,425 and the number of people that received vaccinations was about 3,013,000.

Within Kentucky several counties did make a big effort to encourage people to get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the illness. Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension launched a program called Skip Covid-19 thru a series of programs and lunch and learn events that focused on providing resources for communities, schools, and organizations to inform people on how to prevent the covid-19 virus thru vaccine immunizations and preventive techniques and measures.

Within Hardin County, Kentucky a family and consumer science agent collaborated with

several community organizations to inform community participants on ways to prevent covid19 and ways to encourage vaccinations and immunizations. Several programs were done to inform the community thru the use of information such as fact sheets, resource bags, and resources on vaccination finders. Over this year a total of about 105 people participated in several programs about preventing the covid-19 virus. As a result of this program, more people are open to looking into ways to prevent the covid-19 virus, and more people were encouraged to get the covid-19 vaccine.

About two programs that included some community collaborations were able to get resources out to the community. One of the programs was a Community Baby Shower. The Community Baby Shower was a collaborative effort with one of the community programs called

Kentucky Mums that is a part of a larger organization within the community. As a result of this

program several of the program participants were able to receive several resources on how to prevent the covid-19 virus. They also receive some information on how to improve nutrition for kids and teens thru newsletters and recipes. In addition, about 40% of the program participants expressed some interest in participating in other programs that were being offered within cooperative extension with parenting. 

The other program that was held included a Lunch and Learn program with at a community center. It featured several participants who were seniors, aged 55 to 90 years old. The program participants did get some information on the history on how viruses have evolved into what they are today. The participants received some facts on how getting a vaccine could improve upon how to decrease their chances of having to get more intense complications from covid-19 by getting vaccinated. About 85% of the program participants already had vaccinations and wanted to learn more about any new vaccines that were coming out. As a result of the Skip Covid-19 program, vaccination resiliency seems to have improved overall amongst the community as information has been dispersed amongst certain groups. Also the number of people with the virus has seemed to vary amongst counties within Kentucky over the last year. In some counties the numbers are lower than the previous year. This program will continue to help communities and organizations get the information they need to make informed decisions on their health. Our organization will continue to offer this program throughout the New Year. 

Pictured Above: PIcture of title slide for Skip Covid-19. 

Pictured Above: Picture of participants at Wesley Hilltop Community Center, learning about how to prevent themselves from getting covid-19 or some other viruses like the flu or the cold.   (12/7/22)

Pictured Above & Below: Picture of program participants from Skip Covid-19 Community Baby Shower. 

Pictured Above: Family and Consumer Science Agent, at Skip Covid-19 program for Community Baby Shower.