As Fayette County students prepare to head back to school, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is making sure they have plenty of opportunities to get their required vaccinations.
To beat the back-to-school rush, the health department will be offering immunizations by same-day appointment at the Public Health Clinic at 650 Newtown Pike. To schedule an appointment or for more information about the immunizations, please call (859) 288-2483.
Participants must be 18 years or younger and be uninsured or underinsured. Medicaid is accepted. Immunization records must be brought to the appointment, and physicals will not be provided.
When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk and can spread diseases to others in their classrooms and community – including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer or other health conditions.
Fayette County students who are new to the school district or are entering kindergarten are required to bring a Kentucky immunization certificate in order to enroll. Sixth-grade students are also required to have certain boosters and must bring an up-to-date immunization certificate. Please call the health department’s school health division at (859) 288-2314 for more information.
(En español) It’s time to protect your family, your friends and yourself with the safe, effective COVID-19 bivalent booster! If you got your last primary or booster dose at least 2 months ago, you can get the new booster for protection against the original strain and the Omicron variant.
UPDATED Sept. 6, 2022
COVID-19 vaccines for ages 6 months and older are free by same-day appointment Monday, Wednesday and Thursday by calling 859-288-2483. For ages 6 months-17 years, a legal guardian MUST be present at the time of the shot.
Boosters: For people ages 5 years and older, the only authorized mRNA booster is the updated (bivalent) booster. People ages 5 years and older can no longer get the original (monovalent) mRNA booster. The Pfizer booster is for ages 5 and older, and the Moderna booster is for ages 18 and older. The boosters are free by same-day appointment Monday, Wednesday and Thursday by calling 859-288-2483. For ages 12-17, a legal guardian MUST be present at the time of the shot.
Public Health Clinic
(En español) The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department continues to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to the community.
The Moderna vaccine for ages 6 months-5 years is available for free by same-day appointment in our Public Health Clinic at 650 Newtown Pike. Call 859-288-2483 to schedule your same-day appointment every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday! A legal guardian MUST be present at the time of the shot. To complete the series, a second dose will be given after four weeks; you must call to schedule at that time.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is the best way to reduce the negative impact of this pandemic in all age groups. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), more than 13.5 million children in the U.S. have been infected with COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, and although most children experience mild symptoms, more than 42,000 have been hospitalized in the U.S. and at least 1,240 children aged 18 and younger have died.
The AAP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for children in this age group. Parents are strongly encouraged to have their infants and young children vaccinated with either vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is widely available throughout Lexington and can be found at www.vaccines.gov/search.
The AAP shares this about side effects: “The same side effects that we see with routine childhood vaccines have been seen in the studies of these vaccines. They are things like soreness and redness where the shot goes in. Some babies and children don’t feel well later in the day of the shot or on the next day. A small number of vaccinated children get fever—and very few get high fever. Usually, it lasts only a day or two. Thousands of children were in the studies, and there were no children with serious allergic reactions, heart inflammation or other serious problems related to the vaccines that may worry (caregivers).”
COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5 and older are also free by same-day appointment Monday, Wednesday and Thursday by calling 859-288-2483. For ages 6 months-17, a legal guardian MUST be present at the time of the shot.
We will complete a vaccination series for someone whose first dose was given elsewhere. Vaccines will not be be given to those who are not feeling well or have not yet recovered from a current COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 vaccination is free, but your insurance will be billed for an administration fee. There will be no cost directly to you. You do not need insurance to get the free vaccine.
Thank you for your interest in getting vaccinated. If you need assistance, please call our call center at 859-899-2222.
Free Transportation
If you need help getting to a COVID-19 vaccine clinic, Project Ricochet can help! This community partner is providing FREE transportation to homebound people to our Public Health Clinic or other vaccine providers in Lexington. For help, please contact Barbara Care Inc. at 859-251-5494 or info@barbaracare.com. Visit www.barbaracare.com for more information.
This summer, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department plans to control mosquito populations in the community by bringing increased focus to eliminating standing water and preventing mosquito larvae from hatching. At the same time, the department will use mosquito trapping to identify areas where spraying for adult mosquitos would be most useful.
The health department has surveyed Lexington neighborhoods to identify and treat large areas of standing water that can serve as prime locations for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Elimination of standing water is the ultimate goal, but in places where puddles exist, the water can be treated to kill mosquito larvae with a chemical called a larvicide.
“We are increasing activities to kill mosquito larvae in areas where standing water cannot be drained,” said Luke Mathis, Environmental Health and Preparedness team leader at LFCHD. “Targeting immature mosquitoes is a more effective control strategy as it stops mosquitoes from developing into adults that can feed on humans and transmit mosquito-borne diseases like Zika and West Nile.”
The health department will no longer conduct routine mosquito spraying for adult mosquitoes throughout the city on a regular cycle. Instead, mosquito traps will be placed in potential problem areas. If a certain threshold of mosquito activity is reached, the department will conduct targeted spraying in the appropriate areas. Those areas will be announced via the health department’s website, www.lfchd.org, and social media pages.
For spraying, the health department uses Duet, an EPA-approved agent that features a component that stimulates resting mosquitoes in trees and foliage, causing them to fly into the air and come into contact with the spray’s mosquito-killing agent, sumithrin. Duet has been rigorously tested for human and animal safety and is registered for outdoor residential and recreational areas.
Lexington residents can also take steps at home to fight mosquitoes:
● Mosquito-proof your home and yard. Fix or install window and door screens. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Cover or eliminate empty containers with standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by getting rid of items such as tires, buckets, barrels and cans. Refresh the water in your pet’s water dishes and birdbaths at least every five to seven days.
● Be aware of peak mosquito activity times. The twilight hours around dusk and dawn are times of peak mosquito activity. Use insect repellent when outdoors especially during peak activity times, including early morning hours. Look for EPA-labeled repellents containing active ingredients, such as DEET, Picaridin (KBR3023) or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane 3,8-diol). Apply repellent according to label instructions. When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks outdoors. Mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent helps prevent bites.
“The battle against mosquitoes starts at every residence in Fayette County,” Mathis said. “By eliminating standing water, even something as small a capful of rain in your yard, you can remove areas for mosquitoes to lay eggs. It’s important for people to walk around their homes to see what they can do to help curb the mosquito population.”
To report a standing water problem in your neighborhood, please call the health department’s Environmental Health section at (859) 231-9791. For additional information, like the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LFCHD, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/LFCHD and Instagram at @lexpublichealth.
Commissioner of Health Dr. Kraig Humbaugh received the Elbert “Al” Austin Jr. Career Achievement Award from the Kentucky Public Health Association! Dr. Humbaugh has been Lexington’s commissioner of health since 2016.
The following is the nomination submitted for Dr. Humbaugh.
Full disclosure: if Dr. Kraig Humbaugh wins this award, he will place all the credit on his staff.
That’s true in his current role as Commissioner of Health of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, where he has served since 2016 (and is leaving this summer), and in numerous roles throughout the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Anyone who has worked with Dr. Humbaugh knows he is the first to take the blame for anything bad and to pass the credit for anything good.
The Elbert “Al” Austin Jr. Career Achievement Award is to honor a person “who remains humble among peers yet towers above the rest in achievements,” and if it is possible to do that AND tower about being humble, Dr. Humbaugh is doing just that.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Humbaugh has used his expertise in epidemiology to help the community better understand the data. There’s not a job he’s not been part of during the response, and it’s not just the long hours he puts in that staff notice – they also see him actively talking to almost everyone who walks through our COVID-19 vaccination clinic, holding doors for them, giving them advice and answering every question they toss at him.
Fortunately for Lexington, that type of leadership existed long before the worldwide pandemic. Dr. Humbaugh has extensive experience in public health, including epidemiology of communicable diseases, emergency preparedness and response, as well as a background as a pediatrician. He describes himself as a “prevention-oriented, data-driven public health physician and epidemiologist.”
Dr. Humbaugh has served as the state health department’s director of the Division of Epidemiology and Health Planning. He previously served as medical director for the Louisville Metro Health Department where he also was the interim director of health. He began his medical career as a pediatrician, which included a year in Russia.
Dr. Humbaugh earned his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and his medical degree from Yale University. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Otago in New Zealand and received a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University.
He brought all of that to Lexington and immediately began to think of how to improve our outreach and health equity. He is devoted to diversity and works daily to remind that diversity in all types (race, ethnicity, age, sexuality, gender and more) is crucial to public health’s mission. In Lexington, he used that to develop our core values: CARES (Caring, Accountability, Respect, Equity and Service), so that every person in Lexington is treated with the value they deserve.
It is that leadership that makes Dr. Humbaugh deserving of honors from the Kentucky Public Health Association. He will humbly accept, and we will proudly celebrate with him.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department’s Board of Health has selected Pastor Richard Gaines and Consolidated Baptist Church as the 2021 Dr. Rice C. Leach Public Health Hero award winners. The award is given annually to individuals who have demonstrated their dedication to improving the health of Lexington residents. The winner is announced each April as part of National Public Health Week (April 5-11, 2021).
Gaines and Consolidated were recognized for their long-standing help to Lexington through allowing the church gymnasium as a site for the health department’s annual free flu shot clinic in 2016 and 2017, along with a drive-thru clinic in the parking lot in October 2020. That experience led to the health department launching COVID-19 vaccination clinics at Consolidated, located at 1625 Russell Cave Road, on Dec. 23, 2020, with weekly clinics ever since. This has been without a charge to the department or the public.
Gaines, the Consolidated staff and volunteers work with the health department each week to make sure every need is met for those getting vaccinated. This includes allowing the health department to store basic equipment, which removes the need for set-up/take-down each week. This saves at least four hours every time a clinic is held.
Additionally, Gaines and Consolidated work with the City of Lexington, Mayor Linda Gorton’s office, faith-based leaders and other community organizations to help spread the word about the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Consolidated Baptist Church has been a significant partner in ‘helping Lexington be well,’” a nomination stated, referencing the health department’s mission.
Gaines and Consolidated will be recognized at the April 12 Board of Health meeting, held via Zoom. They will also be honored April 22 during a Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council meeting.
Previously known as the Public Health Hero Award, the Board of Health renamed the award in 2016 in memory of the late Dr. Rice C. Leach, Lexington’s former Commissioner of Health who spent more than 50 years as a public health physician. Leach died April 1, 2016.
Past winners include Jon Parker (2020), Mark Johnson (2019), Dr. Svetla Slavova (2018), Reginald Thomas (2017), Dr. Rice C. Leach (2016), Dr. Susan Pollack and Marian F. Guinn (2015), the Rev. Willis Polk and Baby Health Service (2014), Anita Courtney and Teens Against Tobacco Use (2013); Vickie Blevins and Jay McChord (2012); Jill Chenault-Wilson and Dr. Malkanthie McCormick (2011); Dr. Jay Perman (2010); the Lexington Lions Club (2009); Dr. David Stevens and the late Dr. Doane Fischer (2008); Dr. Ellen Hahn, Mary Alice Pratt and Therese Moseley (2007); Dr. Andrew Moore and Rosa Martin (2006); Jan Brucato and Dragana Zaimovic (2005); and Dr. John Michael Moore, Ellen Parks and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (2004). Dr. Robert Lam received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
UPDATE June 7, 2021: Demographic information for our COVID-19 vaccination clinics will now be available monthly. Click on each image for a high-quality version. You can also see updated information from the CDC Data Tracker.
The latest information showing the demographic data for our weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinics is now available. Click on each image for a high-quality version.
UPDATE April 6, 2021: The latest information showing the demographic data for our weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinics is now available. Click on each image for a high-quality version.
UPDATE March 1, 2021: We continue to follow the federal/state guidelines on COVID-19 vaccination distribution. The clinics have been expanded to include anyone 18 and older who lives or works in Lexington.
UPDATE March 9, 2021: Here’s a look at first-time dose information from previous weeks:
Week of Dec. 21: 1,500 received, 591 given (we held a small clinic this week because of the Christmas holiday and to test our ability to expand in future weeks; doses were carried over to the following week)
Week of Dec. 28: 700 received, 931 given
Week of Jan. 4: 800 received, 1,309 given
Week of Jan. 11: 2,000 received, 1,994 given
Week of Jan. 18: 1,200 received, 1,350 given
Week of Jan. 25: 1,000 received, 1,234 given
Week of Feb. 1: 700 received, 737 given
Week of Feb. 8: 500 received (does not include 600 provided to Baptist Health Lexington), 415 given (includes LFCHD doses only)
Week of Feb. 15: 0 received (shipments were delayed because of ice/snow storms), 129 given (using 2nd-time doses until new shipment arrived)
Week of Feb. 22: 550 received (does not include 1,050 provided to Baptist Health Lexington), 435 given (includes LFCHD doses only; remaining 115 were used as 2nd doses after borrowing from inventory last week due to snow/ice storms).
Week of March 1: 800 received, 810 given
Week of March 8: 800 received, 829 given
Week of March 15: 800 received, 817 given
Week of March 22: 950 received, 876 given
Week of March 29: 1,200 received, 789 given
Week of April 5: 800 received, 841 given
Week of April 12: 400 received (Johnson & Johnson; clinic canceled), 69 given (Moderna doses taken from second dose supply)
Week of April 19: 400 received, 174 given
Week of April 26: 300 received, 166 given
Week of May 3: 0 received, 241 given
Week of May 10: 0 received, 55 given
The difference of more doses given than received is from “bonus/angel doses” in some of the vials.
Kentucky’s Regional Vaccination Clinic Information
Updated Jan. 28, 2021: Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Department for Public Health announced the state’s first regional COVID-19 vaccination clinics, including at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena, 4089 Ironworks Pike, Lexington. The clinics start at 10 a.m. Feb. 2. This for Phase 1B ages 70 and older.
Registration starts at 5 p.m. Jan. 28 at Kroger.com/CovidVaccine. Note: we are not responsible for this site and cannot answer questions about the process or clinics. State vaccine information can be found at vaccine.ky.gov or 855-598-2246.
Updated Jan. 15, 2021: Mayor Linda Gorton and the City of Lexington launched a new site with information about the vaccine rollout: Lexington COVID-19 Vaccine Information.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: If you want to volunteer for the COVID-19 vaccination response, please sign up through the Medical Reserve Corp!
If you want to volunteer for the COVID-19 vaccination response, please sign up through the Medical Reserve Corp! Information about the Medical Reserve Corp, including the sign-up process, can be found here: Lexington Medical Reserve Corp.
It is time to nominate people for the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department’s Dr. Rice C. Leach Public Health Hero Award. The award, now in its 18th year, is for individuals who have demonstrated their dedication to improving the health of Lexington residents.
Criteria for the selection of the award include:
Exemplary leadership and diligence in promoting public health;
Remarkable contributions and support in fostering public health programs; and
Work or actions that have impacted the community’s health in a positive way.
The Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health renamed the award in 2016 in honor of the late Dr. Rice C. Leach “so future generations will know what a true public health super hero is.” Leach, who served as Lexington’s Commissioner of Health for five years, died in April 2016 following a battle with cancer.
Past winners include Jon Parker (2020), Mark Johnson (2019), Dr. Svetla Slavova (2018), Kentucky State Sen. Reginald Thomas (2017), Dr. Leach (2016), Dr. Susan Pollack and Marian F. Guinn (2015), the Rev. Willis Polk and Baby Health Service (2014), Anita Courtney and Teens Against Tobacco Use (2013); Vickie Blevins-Booth and Jay McChord (2012); Jill Chenault-Wilson and Dr. Malkanthie McCormick (2011); Dr. Jay Perman (2010); the Lexington Lions Club (2009); Dr. David Stevens and the late Dr. Doane Fischer (2008); Dr. Ellen Hahn, Mary Alice Pratt and Therese Moseley (2007); Dr. Andrew Moore and Rosa Martin (2006); Jan Brucato and Dragana Zaimovic (2005); and Dr. John Michael Moore, Ellen Parks and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (2004). Dr. Robert Lam received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
If you know of someone to nominate for this award, please provide the following information:
Name, professional title and organization;
Phone number and e-mail address of nominee; and
Examples of why the person is worthy of the award. Descriptions should be no more than 200 words.
The deadline for submitting candidates is 3 p.m., Friday, Feb.26.
The Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health will make the final determination. The winner will receive special recognition from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. The awards are given each April as part of National Public Health Week.
Holiday hours for other public health services will be posted later.
Other Services, Including COVID-19 Response
Dec. 24-25
To allow our employees to enjoy the holiday (and just the second break since the pandemic began!), we will be closed Dec. 25. This includes our COVID-19 response team, meaning new positive cases will not be contacted until Dec. 26. Cases will also not be released from isolation orders on Dec. 25. The COVID-19 response team returns to work Dec. 26. Our website, lfchd.org, will not have numbers updated Dec. 25 but will return to updates Dec. 26.
Dec. 31-Jan. 1
To allow our employees to enjoy the holiday, we will be closed Jan. 1. This includes our COVID-19 response team, meaning new positive cases will not be contacted until Jan. 2. Cases will also not be released from isolation orders on Jan. 1. The COVID-19 response team returns to work Jan. 2. Our website, lfchd.org, will not have numbers updated Jan. 1 but will return to updates Jan. 2.
All other public health services will be closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 and will return to regular hours Jan. 4.
Commissioner of Health Dr. Kraig Humbaugh announced his plans to step down from his position as leader of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department next summer.
“It’s been an honor to be working with a world-class team of public health professionals who continue to face every challenge head-on,” Dr. Humbaugh said. “Every day, and not just in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, these folks embody the standard for excellence in public health.”
Making the announcement now gives the Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health time to select a search firm to find qualified candidates to fill the position.
Dr. Humbaugh, who has been with LFCHD since June 2016, said he has enjoyed working with the health department team and with many partners throughout the community to fulfil the agency’s mission of helping Lexington be well, even during these challenging times.
“I’m hopeful that by the summer of 2021, we as a community will be in a much better place in terms of the pandemic,” he said. “Let’s all continue to work together to help make that a reality. The COVID-19 vaccines that are on the horizon have the potential to be a game-changer by bringing us protection against the virus.”
