W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rate in Kentucky

The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.

Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely. Early research suggests this strain may cause less severe illness than Delta and the original virus, however, health officials have warned an Omicron-driven surge could still increase hospitalization and death rates—especially in areas with less vaccinated populations.

The United States as of Jan. 28 reached 879,435 COVID-19-related deaths and 73.5 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 63.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 41% have received booster doses.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in Kentucky using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest vaccination rate as of Jan. 27, 2022. Due to inconsistencies in reporting, some counties do not have vaccination data available. Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in your state.

HiB2Bornot2B // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Johnson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.0% (10,873 fully vaccinated)
— 11.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 374 (83 total deaths)
— 30.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,305 (4,949 total cases)
— 10.4% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Washington County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.4% (5,972 fully vaccinated)
— 11.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 446 (54 total deaths)
— 55.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,243 (3,295 total cases)
— 9.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Bedford // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Logan County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.5% (13,409 fully vaccinated)
— 10.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 380 (103 total deaths)
— 32.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,330 (7,136 total cases)
— 5.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

w.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Henderson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.5% (22,373 fully vaccinated)
— 10.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 310 (140 total deaths)
— 8.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,607 (12,029 total cases)
— 6.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Mason County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.6% (8,464 fully vaccinated)
— 10.6% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 521 (89 total deaths)
— 81.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,269 (3,972 total cases)
— 6.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Megangen1990 // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Muhlenberg County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.7% (15,204 fully vaccinated)
— 10.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 346 (106 total deaths)
— 20.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,362 (8,685 total cases)
— 13.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#44. McLean County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.8% (4,583 fully vaccinated)
— 10.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 478 (44 total deaths)
— 66.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,905 (2,293 total cases)
— 0.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Grayson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.8% (13,157 fully vaccinated)
— 10.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 428 (113 total deaths)
— 49.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,277 (6,680 total cases)
— 1.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Fleming County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.9% (7,278 fully vaccinated)
— 10.1% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 302 (44 total deaths)
— 5.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,103 (3,077 total cases)
— 15.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Magoffin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.0% (6,077 fully vaccinated)
— 9.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 304 (37 total deaths)
— 5.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,689 (3,124 total cases)
— 3.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Rowan County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.1% (12,266 fully vaccinated)
— 9.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 204 (50 total deaths)
— 28.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,265 (5,446 total cases)
— 10.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Estill County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (7,082 fully vaccinated)
— 9.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 276 (39 total deaths)
— 3.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,906 (3,090 total cases)
— 12.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Jim.henderson // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Hopkins County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (22,436 fully vaccinated)
— 9.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 506 (226 total deaths)
— 76.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,105 (12,559 total cases)
— 12.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Chris Light // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Nelson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.5% (23,343 fully vaccinated)
— 9.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 270 (125 total deaths)
— 5.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,387 (12,662 total cases)
— 10.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Leslie County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.6% (4,994 fully vaccinated)
— 8.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 395 (39 total deaths)
— 37.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,966 (2,861 total cases)
— 16.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

C. Bedford Crenshaw // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Caldwell County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.8% (6,476 fully vaccinated)
— 8.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 431 (55 total deaths)
— 50.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,147 (3,333 total cases)
— 5.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Turover // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Greenup County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.8% (17,823 fully vaccinated)
— 8.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 322 (113 total deaths)
— 12.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,096 (10,212 total cases)
— 16.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Powell County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.9% (6,293 fully vaccinated)
— 8.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 251 (31 total deaths)
— 12.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,799 (3,930 total cases)
— 27.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Breathitt County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.1% (6,452 fully vaccinated)
— 7.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 388 (49 total deaths)
— 35.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,098 (2,791 total cases)
— 11.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Pike County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.7% (29,946 fully vaccinated)
— 6.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 406 (235 total deaths)
— 41.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,418 (14,711 total cases)
— 2.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Nicholas County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.8% (3,766 fully vaccinated)
— 6.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 399 (29 total deaths)
— 39.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,493 (1,635 total cases)
— 9.7% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Letcher County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.8% (11,160 fully vaccinated)
— 6.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 404 (87 total deaths)
— 40.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,720 (5,328 total cases)
— 0.7% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Wolfe County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.0% (3,723 fully vaccinated)
— 6.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 224 (16 total deaths)
— 22.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,164 (1,801 total cases)
— 1.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Bath County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.1% (6,511 fully vaccinated)
— 6.1% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 272 (34 total deaths)
— 5.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,760 (2,345 total cases)
— 24.7% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Jessamine County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.3% (28,296 fully vaccinated)
— 5.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 220 (119 total deaths)
— 23.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,385 (13,196 total cases)
— 2.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Henry County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.4% (8,450 fully vaccinated)
— 5.6% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 248 (40 total deaths)
— 13.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,287 (4,239 total cases)
— 5.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Marshall County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.4% (16,286 fully vaccinated)
— 5.6% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 293 (91 total deaths)
— 2.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,376 (7,270 total cases)
— 6.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Farragutful // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Daviess County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.7% (53,506 fully vaccinated)
— 5.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 331 (336 total deaths)
— 15.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,839 (27,245 total cases)
— 7.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Martin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.0% (5,934 fully vaccinated)
— 4.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 393 (44 total deaths)
— 36.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,627 (2,645 total cases)
— 5.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Mercer County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.0% (11,618 fully vaccinated)
— 4.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 433 (95 total deaths)
— 50.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,049 (6,152 total cases)
— 12.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Clark County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.1% (19,266 fully vaccinated)
— 4.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 138 (50 total deaths)
— 51.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,651 (8,214 total cases)
— 9.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Anderson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.9% (12,250 fully vaccinated)
— 2.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 259 (59 total deaths)
— 9.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,234 (5,285 total cases)
— 6.7% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Scott County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.2% (30,884 fully vaccinated)
— 2.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 144 (82 total deaths)
— 49.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,425 (13,353 total cases)
— 5.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#17. McCracken County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.2% (35,446 fully vaccinated)
— 2.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 315 (206 total deaths)
— 9.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,360 (15,936 total cases)
— 2.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Boyle County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.3% (16,620 fully vaccinated)
— 0.4% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 393 (118 total deaths)
— 36.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,387 (7,030 total cases)
— 6.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Floyd County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.8% (19,874 fully vaccinated)
— 0.5% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 421 (150 total deaths)
— 46.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,975 (9,600 total cases)
— 8.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Bourbon County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.2% (11,119 fully vaccinated)
— 1.3% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 227 (45 total deaths)
— 20.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,955 (4,938 total cases)
— 0.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Oldham County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.2% (37,521 fully vaccinated)
— 1.3% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 181 (121 total deaths)
— 36.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,969 (16,011 total cases)
— 3.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Fulton County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.8% (3,392 fully vaccinated)
— 2.3% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 385 (23 total deaths)
— 34.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,775 (1,061 total cases)
— 28.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Lyon County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.4% (4,714 fully vaccinated)
— 3.4% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 378 (31 total deaths)
— 31.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,233 (2,400 total cases)
— 17.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Ryan Emmick // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Hancock County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.4% (5,008 fully vaccinated)
— 3.4% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 218 (19 total deaths)
— 24.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,524 (2,139 total cases)
— 1.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Kenton County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.6% (97,916 fully vaccinated)
— 5.6% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 198 (331 total deaths)
— 31.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,586 (37,719 total cases)
— 9.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Franklin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.8% (30,478 fully vaccinated)
— 7.7% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 239 (122 total deaths)
— 16.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,204 (11,322 total cases)
— 10.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Perry County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.2% (15,501 fully vaccinated)
— 8.5% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 536 (138 total deaths)
— 86.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,334 (8,071 total cases)
— 25.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Hardin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.4% (67,043 fully vaccinated)
— 8.8% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 338 (375 total deaths)
— 17.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,546 (28,345 total cases)
— 2.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Boone County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.4% (80,623 fully vaccinated)
— 8.8% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 180 (240 total deaths)
— 37.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,955 (33,335 total cases)
— 0.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Rdikeman // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Campbell County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.3% (57,392 fully vaccinated)
— 10.5% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 144 (135 total deaths)
— 49.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,800 (20,401 total cases)
— 12.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Chris Watson // Wikicommons

#3. Jefferson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.1% (475,919 fully vaccinated)
— 11.9% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 251 (1,922 total deaths)
— 12.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,266 (193,731 total cases)
— 1.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Fayette County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.5% (208,504 fully vaccinated)
— 16.2% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 155 (502 total deaths)
— 46.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,498 (82,398 total cases)
— 2.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Woodford County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.6% (17,264 fully vaccinated)
— 16.4% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 150 (40 total deaths)
— 47.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,721 (5,807 total cases)
— 12.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky