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 Feb. 4 reached 897,885 COVID-19-related deaths and 76 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 64% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 41.9% 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 Feb. 3, 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.

Bfreas // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Simpson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.2% (9,129 fully vaccinated)
— 11.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 425 (79 total deaths)
— 46.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,279 (5,252 total cases)
— 7.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Washington County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.6% (5,997 fully vaccinated)
— 11.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 446 (54 total deaths)
— 53.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,219 (3,534 total cases)
— 11.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Mason County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.7% (8,489 fully vaccinated)
— 10.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 533 (91 total deaths)
— 83.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,675 (4,212 total cases)
— 6.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Bedford // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Logan County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.7% (13,460 fully vaccinated)
— 10.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 395 (107 total deaths)
— 35.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,994 (7,587 total cases)
— 6.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

w.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Henderson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.7% (22,460 fully vaccinated)
— 10.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 312 (141 total deaths)
— 7.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,065 (12,688 total cases)
— 6.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Megangen1990 // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Muhlenberg County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.8% (15,246 fully vaccinated)
— 10.6% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 356 (109 total deaths)
— 22.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,785 (9,427 total cases)
— 16.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#44. McLean County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.0% (4,601 fully vaccinated)
— 10.2% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 489 (45 total deaths)
— 68.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,643 (2,453 total cases)
— 1.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Grayson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.0% (13,205 fully vaccinated)
— 10.2% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 435 (115 total deaths)
— 49.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,211 (7,191 total cases)
— 3.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Magoffin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.1% (6,093 fully vaccinated)
— 10.1% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 304 (37 total deaths)
— 4.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,473 (3,341 total cases)
— 4.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

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

#41. Fleming County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (7,313 fully vaccinated)
— 9.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 302 (44 total deaths)
— 3.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,529 (3,285 total cases)
— 14.4% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Rowan County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.3% (12,312 fully vaccinated)
— 9.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 204 (50 total deaths)
— 29.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,549 (5,760 total cases)
— 10.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Estill County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.4% (7,103 fully vaccinated)
— 9.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 284 (40 total deaths)
— 2.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,699 (3,343 total cases)
— 10.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Jim.henderson // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Hopkins County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.4% (22,533 fully vaccinated)
— 9.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 515 (230 total deaths)
— 77.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,034 (13,421 total cases)
— 14.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Leslie County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.7% (5,010 fully vaccinated)
— 9.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 395 (39 total deaths)
— 35.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,930 (3,055 total cases)
— 17.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Chris Light // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Nelson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.7% (23,452 fully vaccinated)
— 9.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 275 (127 total deaths)
— 5.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,172 (13,487 total cases)
— 10.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

C. Bedford Crenshaw // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Caldwell County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.9% (6,490 fully vaccinated)
— 8.6% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 447 (57 total deaths)
— 53.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,211 (3,596 total cases)
— 7.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Turover // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Greenup County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.9% (17,877 fully vaccinated)
— 8.6% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 325 (114 total deaths)
— 11.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,765 (10,798 total cases)
— 16.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Powell County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.2% (6,328 fully vaccinated)
— 8.1% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 259 (32 total deaths)
— 11.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,975 (4,199 total cases)
— 29.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Breathitt County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.3% (6,474 fully vaccinated)
— 7.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 388 (49 total deaths)
— 33.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,713 (2,995 total cases)
— 9.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Pike County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.9% (30,028 fully vaccinated)
— 6.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 408 (236 total deaths)
— 40.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,854 (15,542 total cases)
— 2.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Letcher County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.0% (11,202 fully vaccinated)
— 6.6% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 404 (87 total deaths)
— 38.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,702 (5,755 total cases)
— 1.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Nicholas County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.1% (3,787 fully vaccinated)
— 6.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 399 (29 total deaths)
— 37.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,772 (1,728 total cases)
— 9.7% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Wolfe County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.2% (3,733 fully vaccinated)
— 6.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 238 (17 total deaths)
— 18.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,106 (1,940 total cases)
— 2.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Bath County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.3% (6,543 fully vaccinated)
— 6.1% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 280 (35 total deaths)
— 3.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,808 (2,476 total cases)
— 24.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Henry County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (8,472 fully vaccinated)
— 5.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 260 (42 total deaths)
— 10.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,794 (4,482 total cases)
— 5.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Marshall County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (16,339 fully vaccinated)
— 5.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 293 (91 total deaths)
— 0.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,129 (7,815 total cases)
— 4.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Jessamine County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (28,388 fully vaccinated)
— 5.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 222 (120 total deaths)
— 23.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,804 (13,964 total cases)
— 2.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Farragutful // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Daviess County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.9% (53,689 fully vaccinated)
— 5.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 338 (343 total deaths)
— 16.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,699 (29,133 total cases)
— 9.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Martin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.1% (5,943 fully vaccinated)
— 4.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 393 (44 total deaths)
— 35.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,850 (2,782 total cases)
— 5.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Mercer County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.2% (11,662 fully vaccinated)
— 4.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 447 (98 total deaths)
— 53.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,666 (6,726 total cases)
— 16.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Clark County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.3% (19,319 fully vaccinated)
— 4.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 141 (51 total deaths)
— 51.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,413 (8,853 total cases)
— 7.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Anderson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.0% (12,276 fully vaccinated)
— 3.1% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 264 (60 total deaths)
— 9.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,900 (5,664 total cases)
— 5.4% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Scott County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.4% (31,005 fully vaccinated)
— 2.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 144 (82 total deaths)
— 50.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,047 (14,278 total cases)
— 4.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#17. McCracken County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.4% (35,574 fully vaccinated)
— 2.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 315 (206 total deaths)
— 8.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,785 (16,868 total cases)
— 2.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Boyle County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.5% (16,672 fully vaccinated)
— 0.4% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 399 (120 total deaths)
— 37.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,210 (7,578 total cases)
— 4.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Floyd County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.0% (19,926 fully vaccinated)
— 0.5% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 424 (151 total deaths)
— 45.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,119 (10,363 total cases)
— 10.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Oldham County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.3% (37,620 fully vaccinated)
— 1.1% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 181 (121 total deaths)
— 37.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,337 (16,925 total cases)
— 3.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Bourbon County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.4% (11,166 fully vaccinated)
— 1.3% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 232 (46 total deaths)
— 20.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,845 (5,312 total cases)
— 1.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Fulton County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.1% (3,406 fully vaccinated)
— 2.5% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 385 (23 total deaths)
— 32.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,563 (1,108 total cases)
— 29.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Lyon County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.5% (4,721 fully vaccinated)
— 3.2% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 390 (32 total deaths)
— 34.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,425 (2,580 total cases)
— 19.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Ryan Emmick // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Hancock County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.6% (5,027 fully vaccinated)
— 3.4% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 218 (19 total deaths)
— 25.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,233 (2,288 total cases)
— 0.4% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Kenton County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.8% (98,244 fully vaccinated)
— 5.6% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 199 (333 total deaths)
— 31.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,360 (39,010 total cases)
— 11.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Franklin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.0% (30,587 fully vaccinated)
— 7.7% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 241 (123 total deaths)
— 17.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,612 (12,040 total cases)
— 10.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Perry County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.3% (15,544 fully vaccinated)
— 8.3% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 536 (138 total deaths)
— 84.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,597 (8,654 total cases)
— 27.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Boone County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.6% (80,945 fully vaccinated)
— 8.8% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 182 (243 total deaths)
— 37.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,782 (34,440 total cases)
— 2.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Hardin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.7% (67,344 fully vaccinated)
— 9.0% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 347 (385 total deaths)
— 19.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,344 (30,340 total cases)
— 3.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Rdikeman // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Campbell County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.5% (57,578 fully vaccinated)
— 10.4% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 146 (137 total deaths)
— 49.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,613 (21,162 total cases)
— 14.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Chris Watson // Wikicommons

#3. Jefferson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.3% (477,687 fully vaccinated)
— 11.8% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 253 (1,940 total deaths)
— 13.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,504 (203,218 total cases)
— 0.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Fayette County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.7% (209,193 fully vaccinated)
— 16.2% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 158 (512 total deaths)
— 45.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,773 (86,518 total cases)
— 1.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Woodford County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.8% (17,314 fully vaccinated)
— 16.3% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 153 (41 total deaths)
— 47.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,180 (6,197 total cases)
— 12.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky