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.
• Your name and contact information

Nominations can be submitted here: https://www.lfchd.org/public-health-hero-award-nomination.

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.

We will have special hours starting Dec. 21 because of the holidays.

Public Health Clinic

Our Public Health Clinic will be open the following times the weeks of Dec. 21-25 and Dec. 28-Jan. 1.

• 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday
• 8 a.m.- 7 p.m. Tuesday
• 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesday
• CLOSED Thursday/Friday.

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.”

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The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is giving you the chance to fight the flu for free while maintaining safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting Monday, Oct. 5, flu shots will also be available for free all season by appointment only at LFCHD’s Public Health Clinic, 650 Newtown Pike. Please call 859-288-2444 to make an appointment, starting Oct. 5; walk-ins will not be accepted due to requirements to maintain physical distancing in the clinic.

“An annual flu shot is the best way to fight the flu each fall and winter,” LFCHD spokesperson Kevin Hall said. “The flu shot is especially important this season 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.”

Last flu season, Lexington had 3 deaths from flu-related causes and 742 lab-confirmed cases.

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.

For additional information about the 2020-21 flu season, 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. For questions about the flu shot, call the Public Health Clinic at 859-288-2444.