Lexington-Fayette County Health Department

It’s time for Lexington’s senior adults to fight the flu!

Adults 65 and older are at an increased risk of serious complications from the flu and typically account for the majority of the flu-related hospitalizations and deaths each year across the United States.

Limited quantities of the high-dose flu shot for ages 65 and older will be available for free at the 2024 Free Flu Shot Clinic 3-7 p.m. at Fayette Mall (interior entrance of Dillard’s). Learn more, including how to pre-register starting Sept. 23, at www.LFCHD.org/FluShots2024.

Talking about bad things that could happen like a disaster or emergency isn’t always easy. on today to help you and your family take more actions to get ready and stay safe.
This , find information and tips on how to protect yourself and your family before, during and after emergencies and disasters by visiting www.ready.gov/be-informed

September is ! Did you know that there is a wide variety of whole foods ? These include pastas, bread, cereals, rice, oats and much more.
Check out these delicious, nutritious whole grain recipes for the whole family that kids will love, including whole grain pancakes with berries and fresh yogurt: https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/wic/recipes/breads.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawFRHeRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHa6CczW928jM1X30vGA5NFpggH2KCYNh6muSY8Ac_JQFCJjmCbFcPNY99g_aem_-smyXSik_hT1nsFA_irs9w
To learn more about our WIC program, contact 859-288-2483.

Lexington, protect your pets!

Get a $5 rabies shot for your dogs, cats or ferrets at the 2024 Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic 5-8 p.m. Sept. 17 at Castlewood Park. Check out the Facebook Event listing for complete details!


Lexington Humane Society
Lexington-Fayette Animal Care & Control

Did you know that when you quit smoking everyone around you also benefits?

Quit smoking and you’ll cut the harmful effects of secondhand smoke (smoke that’s exhaled or comes from the burning end of ci******es, ci**rs and pipes) for those around you.

Each year in the United States secondhand smoke:
• Causes about 7,300 deaths from lung cancer in adult nonsmokers
• Causes close to 34,000 deaths from heart disease in adult nonsmokers.

We’re partnering with the Bourbon County Health Department to host a free online Freedom From Smoking class to help you break the habit in the new year! The first class starts at 6 p.m. Sept. 30, so call today to get more information on how to sign up: 859-288-2377 or 859-987-1915.

Lexington had 1 new pertussis (whooping cough) case in the last week, brining the total at 66 cases since April 26 during this outbreak. Updated numbers are posted every Tuesday.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing and sneezing. All central Kentucky caregivers should be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of pertussis while ensuring their kids are up to date on their vaccines or fully vaccinated with the booster.

The pertussis vaccine is part of school-age children’s routine immunization schedule, with a booster recommended for ages 11 and older. The vaccine’s immunity tends to decrease over time, making the booster important for older children and adults, so talk to your provider to find out if you need a new dose!

Learn more at www.LFCHD.org/pertussis and www.cdc.gov/pertussis.

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day. We can all help prevent su***de. Understanding the issues concerning su***de and mental health is an important way to take part in su***de prevention, help others in crisis, and change the conversation around su***de. Learn more: samhsa.gov/su***de

A flu shot is the best way for pregnant women to fight the flu this fall and winter!

Protect your family with a FREE flu shot at the 2024 Free Flu Shot Clinic 3-7 p.m. Oct. 3 at Fayette Mall (interior entrance of Dillard’s). Learn more, including how to pre-register starting Sept. 23, at www.LFCHD.org/FluShots2024.

The flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant people than in people of reproductive age who are not pregnant. Changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make pregnant people (and people up to two weeks postpartum) more prone to severe illness from flu, including illness resulting in hospitalization. Flu also may be harmful for a pregnant person’s developing baby (www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/pregnant.htm).

Parents and caregivers, learn how to properly install car seats and how to safely buckle up your children!

Every September, Safe Kids Worldwide members hold FREE events to help ensure kids are safety in car seats, booster seats and seat belts. You can also have seats inspected by certified child passenger safety technicians. Seat checks are by appointment only; call 859-323-1153 to reserve a spot at one of the following dates hosted by Safe Kids Fayette County:
• noon-2 p.m. Sept. 11, Immanuel Baptist, 3100 Tates Creek Road
• 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 21, Safe Kids Office, 2333 Alumni Park Plaza, Suite 105
• 3-5 p.m. Sept. 30, Safe Kids Office, 2333 Alumni Park Plaza, Suite 105

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department will spray for mosquitoes early on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 12, and Friday, Sept. 13, after mosquito traps at Cross Keys, Liberty Road, Rogers Road and Maplewood Drive showed increased activity.

On Thursday, spraying will primarily cover the 40505 ZIP code area but will also include parts of 40502, 40509 and 40511. On Friday, the spraying will cover portions of 40503 and 40504. Spraying for both days will be done between 3-6 a.m.

For spraying to occur, the wind speed must be less than 10 mph, the temperature must be greater than 55 degrees F and there can be no rain or dense fog. The mosquito spray used by the health department only affects adult mosquitoes that are in the air at the time of spraying.

To learn more about LFCHD’s mosquito program, please visit www.LFCHD.org/mosquitoes/.

September is National Food Safety Education Month!

The federal government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually – that’s about 1 in 6 Americans each year. Each year, these illnesses result in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.

To keep your family safer from food poisoning, follow these four simple steps: clean, separate, cook, and chill. Learn more: https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/safe-food-handling!

This is your chance to be the leader of a world-class public health organization and guide our CARES values: Caring, Accountability, Respect, Equity and Service!

The Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health is looking for a new Commissioner of Health with seasoned management skills and public health experience. Check out the job posting at www.LFCHD.org/jobs, and if you (or someone you know) fits the bill, please apply today and join us in helping Lexington be well!

You can learn how to prevent diabetes without leaving your home! We are hosting a FREE online class for anyone in Kentucky who meets the following criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• BMI (Body Mass Index) of 25 or greater
• Be at high-risk for developing Type 2 diabetes or have been diagnosed with prediabetes.

Our Diabetes Prevention Program will be held 5-6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2, online through Microsoft Teams. To register or for more information, please visit https://www.lfchd.org/16205-gdkhek/ or call 859-288-2473.

Lexington-Fayette County Health Department Mission: helping Lexington be well. Vision: We will move Lexington toward being one of the healthies

Fight the flu this fall, Fayette County!

Protect your family with a FREE flu shot at the 2024 Free Flu Shot Clinic 3-7 p.m. Oct. 3 at Fayette Mall (interior entrance of Dillard’s). Learn more, including how to pre-register starting Sept. 23, at www.LFCHD.org/FluShots2024.

Tiffany Richardson and Dustin Dunaway spent Saturday at The Token Club to honor Overdose Awareness Day and our Harm Reduction Program’s role in helping Lexington residents stay safe!

Our Harm Reduction Program, which provides free naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses, is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, 3-6 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday.

Learn more at www.LFCHD.org/harmreductionprogram.

Nine years ago, on Sept. 4, 2015, we began a needle-exchange program to reduce the spread of hepatitis C and HIV. Since then, it’s grown into a larger Harm Reduction Services Program, featuring testing for hepatitis C and HIV; free naloxone used to reverse opioid overdoses; and on-site counseling to connect people to rehabilitation and treatment centers.

Thank you, Lexington and central Kentucky, for trusting us to help you with this life-saving, life-changing program!

Our Harm Reduction Program is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, 3-6 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday.

Learn more at www.LFCHD.org/harmreductionprogram.

Fight the flu this fall, Fayette County!

Protect your family with a FREE flu shot at the 2024 Free Flu Shot Clinic 3-7 p.m. Oct. 3 at Fayette Mall (interior entrance of Dillard’s). Learn more, including how to pre-register starting Sept. 23, at www.LFCHD.org/FluShots2024.

Lexington-Fayette County Health Department Mission: helping Lexington be well. Vision: We will move Lexington toward being one of the healthies

Lexington had 3 new pertussis (whooping cough) cases in the last week, brining the total at 65 cases since April 26 during this outbreak. Updated numbers are posted every Tuesday.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing and sneezing. All central Kentucky caregivers should be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of pertussis while ensuring their kids are up to date on their vaccines or fully vaccinated with the booster.

The pertussis vaccine is part of school-age children’s routine immunization schedule, with a booster recommended for ages 11 and older. The vaccine’s immunity tends to decrease over time, making the booster important for older children and adults, so talk to your provider to find out if you need a new dose!

Learn more at www.LFCHD.org/pertussis and www.cdc.gov/pertussis.

We are closed today (Monday, Sept. 2) in observance of Labor Day. We'll return to regular hours Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Today is Overdose Awareness Day, and we join Lexington in honoring the memory of our friends, family and loved ones we have lost to overdose.

Our Harm Reduction Program plays a vital role in helping those with substance use disorder, including providing free naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses. Our program is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, 3-6 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday. Whether it’s your first visit or 1,000th, you are welcome here without judgment or stigma.

Learn more about our program at www.LFCHD.org/harmreductionprogram.

Check out this upcoming event for families from our friends at KCHIP!

We will be closed Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day. We'll return to regular hours Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Kem Crumbie is our latest CARES Award recipient. The CARES Award is presented quarterly to an LFCHD employee who best exhibits one or more of our core values: Caring, Accountability, Respect, Equity and Service.

Kem, who is a senior medical records specialist (and requested not to be pictured), always “goes beyond the job to help,” a co-worker wrote in nominating her. “She was super kind and sweet in training me from start to finish. She went beyond her requirements to help me learn my job.”

The nomination especially noted Kem’s kindness: “She always encouraged me with positive words. I would say I have a CARING co-worker.”

Please join us in celebrating Kem’s CARES Awards and her valuable role in helping Lexington be well!

Our Harm Reduction staff is ready for Overdose Awareness Day on Saturday, Aug. 31!

After spending today working in our Harm Reduction Program, including providing snacks, purple ribbons and T-shirts to participants, our team will be part of an Overdose Awareness Day Event 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 31 at The Token Club, 1037 Goodwin Drive. The day will feature guest speakers, live music, resources and more for the community.

Pictured above are Kelsie Hernandez, with University of Kentucky Target 4, and employees Tiffany Richardson, John Moses, Ruth Stevenson and Dustin Dunaway.

Our Harm Reduction Program, which provides free naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses, is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, 3-6 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday.

Learn more at www.LFCHD.org/harmreductionprogram.

Never leave kids in the car!

With weather forecasts calling for temperatures in the 90s and heat index values even higher, it’s more important than ever to help remind caregivers the importance of preventing heatstroke in hot cars by never leaving kids or adults unattended in a car, not even for a minute!

Learn more: www.lfchd.org/never-leave-a-child-unattended-in-a-car/.

Do you need help managing the risk for diabetes?

Join us for our FREE Pre-Diabetes Basics class to learn how to make healthy and lasting changes to start living your best life!

Our Pre-Diabetes Basics class will be held 5-6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18, online through Microsoft Teams. To register or for more information, please visit https://www.lfchd.org/16205-gdkhek/ or call 859-288-2473.

Maddey Culbertson (intern), Dr. Michelle Rastegar (resident) and Tara Mason (Community Education team leader) attended the Summer Jam last week for residents of Connie Griffith Ballard Towers for their residents. Our team provided information on diabetes, to***co cessation and high blood pressure. They also gave away COVID-19 test kits, sun visors and stress balls, all as part of our we are helping Lexington be well!