COVID-19 Vaccinations To Be Administered To Nursing Home Residents, Staff

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said that COVID-19 vaccinations will begin on Tuesday for nursing home residents and staff as part of phase one of the state's distribution plan.

According to Stitt, so far the vaccination has been given to Oklahomans in 77 counties.

The state is still in phase one of its distribution plan, which includes healthcare workers and people in nursing homes, and it is expected to last about one month.

On Tuesday the Governor and other state health leaders will be at the "Lodge at Brookline" in Oklahoma City where they will be giving the first doses of the vaccine to patients and staff outside to ensure facility safety and protocols.

"We see it as a light at the end of the tunnel. We kept thinking initially this was for a few months and then it kept going and going," said Kimberly Green from Diakonos Group.

Currently Oklahomans ages 65 and up represent a little more than 14% of the state's cases, but In overall deaths, that age group represents more than 80% of Oklahomans lost.

Governor Stitt and state health leaders are expected to hold a news conference when the first doses are administered at 11 a.m.