(Haga clic aquí para el español.) The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is giving you the chance to fight the flu for free all fall and winter.

Free Flu Shots in Public Health Clinic

Flu shots are available for free all season by same-day appointment only at LFCHD’s Public Health Clinic, 650 Newtown Pike. Please call 859-288-2483 to make an appointment; walk-ins will not be accepted in the Public Health Clinic.

Flu Information

“An annual flu shot is the best way to fight the flu each fall and winter,” LFCHD spokesperson Kevin Hall said. “The flu shot remains important this year as we remain in the COVID-19 pandemic. It can help reduce the overall impact on respiratory illnesses on the population, which will lessen the burden on our healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In addition to helping prevent you from getting sick with flu, a flu shot can reduce the severity of your illness if you do get flu and reduce your risk of a flu-associated hospitalization.

The seasonal flu shot is recommended for all people ages 6 months and older and is especially important for people at the highest risk of serious complications from the flu: infants and young children, pregnant women, anyone with underlying medical conditions and adults 50 and older.

For additional information about the 2021-22 flu season, follow the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Starting Wednesday, Sept. 29, free booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be available by same-day appointment in our Public Health Clinic for: 

• people ages 65 and older;
• people ages 18 through 64 with underlying medical conditions putting them at high risk of severe COVID-19 (this includes diabetes and heart, kidney or lung disease; more information on who is considered at high risk can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html);
• people ages 18 and older who live in long-term care or high-risk settings; and
• people ages 18 through 64 who are likely to get exposed at work (examples include health care and education).

The booster can be given 6 months after you received your second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. More information about the Pfizer booster can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html.

In addition, immunocompromised individuals – for example, people who are undergoing cancer treatment or who are taking a high dose of an immunosuppressant – a third shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine is recommended at least 28 days after the second shot.

Boosters are for people who got the first and second dose of the Pfizer vaccine whose protection has waned over time. The third doses are for immunocompromised people whose immune systems were not able to fully respond to the initial doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Same-day appointments are available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in our Public Health Clinic at 650 Newtown Pike. Call 859-288-2483 to schedule your appointment.

At this time, the CDC has not recommended booster doses for those who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines.

Anyone who has yet to receive their first dose or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine can also call to schedule their same-day appointment. Our Public Health Clinic offers the Moderna and Janssen vaccines for ages 18 and older and the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and older.

The Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health recently approved an update to city’s food service regulations. A summary of the changes, including definition updates and new late fees for permits, can be found here: Food Service Regulation 19 Summary.

The updates also change the health department’s internal “probation program” for restaurants. The new program will be an Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement. Establishments that score below an 85 on their regular inspection, fail an assigned follow-up inspection or require closure due to an imminent public health issue (e.g. raw sewage, no electricity, no running water, rodent or insect infestation with food adulteration) will be placed on ERE. See section 45, page 40 for details: Food Service Regulation 19.

The new regulation was adopted Sept. 13, 2021, and is effective immediately. Anyone who cannot access the information posted can contact Environmental Health at 859-231-9791.

Language Posted in Newspaper

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Board of Health voted unanimously to pass a revised Food Service Regulation on September 13, 2021. All food service establishments are encouraged to review the regulation at their earliest convenience. The summary of changes and the full document may be viewed on the LFCHD webpage (https://www.lfchd.org), specifically at https://www.lfchd.org/updates-to-food-service-regulation-19/. The public has a right to inspect Regulation 19. Requests to inspect Regulation 19 may be submitted by mail or in person at 650 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40508.

If You Received Your COVID-19 Vaccine from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department

The COVID-19 vaccine card received at the time of vaccination is issued by the CDC. We cannot replace your card but can provide proof vaccination if you received your COVID-19 vaccine from one of our clinics. 

To get your proof of vaccination, use this Proof of Vaccination Form or email covidcardreplacement@lfchd.org.

If You Received Your COVID-19 Vaccine from Other Locations

The COVID-19 vaccine card received at the time of vaccination is issued by the CDC. It cannot be replaced with a new card. Anyone vaccinated anywhere in Kentucky can get proof of a COVID-19 vaccine through the Kentucky Immunization Registry, whether you’re fully vaccinated or have only had one dose of a two-dose regimen. Call 502-564-0038 or email KYIRHelpdesk@ky.gov. Learn more at https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/idb/Pages/kyir.aspx.

En español

Cómo obtener una tarjeta de vacuna COVID-19 de reemplazo

Si recibió su vacuna COVID-19 del Departamento de Salud del Condado de Lexington-Fayette

La tarjeta de vacuna COVID-19 recibida en el momento de la vacunación es emitida por los CDC. No podemos reemplazar su tarjeta, pero podemos proporcionar una prueba de vacunación si recibió su vacuna COVID-19 de una de nuestras clínicas.

Para obtener su prueba de vacunación, visite AUTORIZACIÓN PARA LA LIBERACIÓN DEL REGISTRO DE INMUNIZACIÓN DEL PACIENTE o envíe un correo electrónico a covidcardreplacement@lfchd.org.

Si recibió su vacuna CONTRA el COVID-19 desde otros lugares

La tarjeta de vacuna COVID-19 recibida en el momento de la vacunación es emitida por los CDC. No se puede reemplazar con una tarjeta nueva. Cualquier persona vacunada en cualquier lugar de Kentucky puede obtener prueba de una vacuna COVID-19 a través del Registro de Inmunización de Kentucky, ya sea que esté completamente vacunado o que solo haya tenido una dosis de un régimen de dos dosis. Llame al 502-564-0038 o envíe un correo electrónico a KYIRHelpdesk@ky.gov. Obtenga más información en https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/idb/Pages/kyir.aspx.

You’ve tested positive for COVID-19 – now what?

We have developed this patient guide to help you with your next steps: COVID-19 Patient Guide (updated 9/8/21).

We are attempting to call all positive cases, but we cannot call someone until we have important information (names, phone numbers, test dates, etc.) from the labs. Some cases cannot be contacted because of missing lab information and/or people not answering our calls. If you have tested positive and have not been contacted by us, please send your lab results to covidreport@lfchd.org.

Close Contacts

We do not call contacts of cases. For close contacts, this guide can help you: Close Contact Quarantine Information. If you need official documentation for your place of employment, or for private schools, please email covidorders@lfchd.org.

If you are a Fayette County Public Schools contact who has been quarantined by the schools, you will be contacted by FCPS and not the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.

Save the date, Lexington! We’ll be giving free flu shots 3-6 p.m. Oct. 6 at Consolidated Baptist Church, 1625 Russell Cave Road. Additional details will be available soon and will post at lfchd.org and on our Facebook page.

“An annual flu shot is the best way to fight the flu each fall and winter,” LFCHD spokesperson Kevin Hall said. “The flu shot remains important this year as we remain in the COVID-19 pandemic. It can help reduce the overall impact on respiratory illnesses on the population, which will lessen the burden on our healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In addition to helping prevent you from getting sick with flu, a flu shot can reduce the severity of your illness if you do get flu and reduce your risk of a flu-associated hospitalization.

The seasonal flu shot is recommended for all people ages 6 months and older and is especially important for people at the highest risk of serious complications from the flu: infants and young children, pregnant women, anyone with underlying medical conditions and adults 50 and older.

 Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC is also urging the flu shot for essential workers, including healthcare personnel and long-term care facility staff; and people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including adults 65 and older, residents of long-term care facilities and anyone with underlying health conditions.

Note: For more testing information throughout Lexington, visit the City of Lexington’s informational page.

Fayette County Public Schools has implemented robust health and safety protocols designed to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19 so that our students reap the benefits of in-person learning. in the latest effort, our health care partners will offer voluntary free COVID-19 testing for all interested FCPS students and employees on several of our campuses, district facilities, and community locations. Individuals can go to any of the testing sites regardless of where they work or attend school.

With Gravity Diagnostics, no appointments are necessary and drive-thru testing is available. Visit here to learn more about the updated locations: FCPS COVID-19 Testing Sites.

Starting Monday, Aug. 23, third doses of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines will be available for immunocompromised people by same-day appointment every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in our Public Health Clinic at 650 Newtown Pike. Call 859-288-2483 to schedule your appointment. The third dose can be received four weeks after receiving your second dose. 

Please note this is NOT the booster dose for those who received their second dose 6 months ago (learn about the differences here: Information on third dose and booster dose). This is a third dose only for immunocompromised people. Those who need the third dose include people who:

• Have been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
•  Have advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Have active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

More information about the third dose can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html.

Anyone who has yet to receive their first dose or second dose can also call to schedule their same-day appointment! Our Public Health Clinic offers the Moderna and Janssen vaccines for ages 18 and older and the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and older.

Note: The third dose will be available Aug. 22 in our Public Health Clinic. Learn more here: LFCHD offering 3rd dose for immunocompromised people.

The CDC has recently updated information about a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for some people and a booster dose for others. Let’s take a look at the differences between the third dose and the booster:

COVID-19 third dose

People who are immunocompromised may not build the same level of immunity with a 2-dose vaccine series and may benefit from an additional dose to make sure they have enough protection against COVID-19. The CDC recommends people who are immunocompromised should receive an additional dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine after the initial two doses. This is not the same as a booster dose.

Third doses will be available for immunocompromised patients through the health department later this week or next week after we have received the appropriate medical protocols and have all the details in place. More information will be available at www.lfchd.org and our Facebook page once it is completed.

COVID-19 booster dose

(Updated Set. 28) A booster dose is given to people when the immune response to a primary vaccine series is likely to have waned over time. Booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 have been approved. Learn more at www.lfchd.org/PfizerBooster. While the CDC anticipates the need for a booster dose with the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, information is not yet available.

Information about how the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department will provide booster doses will be available at www.lfchd.org and our Facebook page once details are finalized.

The top priority remains staying ahead of the virus and protecting people from COVID-19 with safe, effective and long-lasting vaccines. This virus is constantly changing, and vaccines remain the most powerful tool we have against COVID-19. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, you should get vaccinated right away. Nearly all the cases of severe disease, hospitalization, and death continue to occur among those not yet vaccinated.

UPDATED AUG. 30 TO REFLECT MASK REQUIREMENT

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department will host a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, at Douglass Park, 726 Georgetown Street. Because of COVID-19, masks are required for every person who attends.

Vaccinations will cost just $5. All cats and ferrets must be in a carrier, and all dogs must be on leashes. In the event of bad weather, the clinic date is subject to change, with Sept. 16 set as the rain date. The health department will provide updated information at www.lfchd.org, on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LFCHD, and its Twitter account at www.twitter.com/LFCHD. A special Facebook Event page has also been created at www.facebook.com/events/4239266719496751.

Rabies, a viral disease of humans, pets and wild animals, is transmitted from animals to humans by the saliva of a rabid animal, usually from a bite. Rabies vaccinations typically cost about $20, making this clinic a great value to pet owners. “A rabies shot gives protection to the pet as well as its owner and the other people of Lexington,” said Luke Mathis, LFCHD Environmental Health team leader and one of the event’s organizers. “We’re pleased to provide this useful public health service as we help Lexington be well.”

The clinic also provides pet owners with the opportunity to purchase an animal license for $8 if the animal has been spayed or neutered. A license costs $40 if the animal has not been altered or the owner has no proof of alteration. Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control, the Lexington Humane Society, the Lexington-Fayette County Division of Parks and Recreation Department and the Gainesway Small Animal Clinic are also sponsoring the event.