Weekly Health News Round Up 1.15.21

Lawmakers in the both the House and Senate have filed bills to let cities and counties more strictly regulate marketing and sale of tobacco products. Rep. Kim Moser says this law is needed to make Kentucky a healthier place, nothing nearly 9,000 Kentuckians die from a smoking-related disease each year. 

Research suggests that workers battling substance use disorder miss nearly 29 days of work each year, and nearly 9 out of 10 overdose deaths are among working-age people. With a staggering amount of people struggling with SUD, corporations must take a greater role in removing the stigma of addiction. 

Registration is now open for certain Louisville residents to request a COVID-19 vaccination. A vaccine request form is available on the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness website for individuals 70 and older or who fall into other categories covered in Kentucky’s “tier 1B” vaccination rollout plan. 

The University of Kentucky is beginning to vaccinate faculty and staff against COVID-19 who work outside of the healthcare setting. Those who are receiving invitations to get vaccinated are “faculty and staff over the age of 65, custodial and facilities staff who have high levels of in-person interactions on campus each day and members of our student services staff who support students in a number of critical roles.”

Kentucky is on the verge of surpassing 3,000 deaths in which COVID-19 was a contributing factor after Gov. Beshear announced 47 new deaths and over 4500 new cases on Wednesday.