Christopher L. Riley // 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. 25 reached 946,481 COVID-19-related deaths and 78.8 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 64.8% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 43.5% 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. 24, 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.

Wdzinc // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Marion County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.6% (9,550 fully vaccinated)
— 11.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 379 (73 total deaths)
— 25.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,460 (6,256 total cases)
— 16.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Washington County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.0% (6,048 fully vaccinated)
— 11.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 455 (55 total deaths)
— 50.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,021 (3,752 total cases)
— 10.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Bedford // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Logan County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.0% (13,563 fully vaccinated)
— 11.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 406 (110 total deaths)
— 34.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,057 (8,146 total cases)
— 7.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Mason County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.1% (8,551 fully vaccinated)
— 10.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 545 (93 total deaths)
— 80.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,011 (4,440 total cases)
— 7.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

w.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Henderson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.1% (22,661 fully vaccinated)
— 10.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 319 (144 total deaths)
— 5.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,474 (13,325 total cases)
— 5.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Megangen1990 // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Muhlenberg County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (15,387 fully vaccinated)
— 10.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 366 (112 total deaths)
— 21.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,457 (9,939 total cases)
— 16.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#44. McLean County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.4% (4,636 fully vaccinated)
— 10.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 500 (46 total deaths)
— 65.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,000 (2,578 total cases)
— 0.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Magoffin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.4% (6,135 fully vaccinated)
— 10.3% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 312 (38 total deaths)
— 3.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,899 (3,636 total cases)
— 6.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

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

#42. Fleming County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.6% (7,375 fully vaccinated)
— 10.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 302 (44 total deaths)
— 0.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,141 (3,520 total cases)
— 13.7% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Rowan County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.6% (12,387 fully vaccinated)
— 10.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 213 (52 total deaths)
— 29.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,106 (6,141 total cases)
— 10.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Grayson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.6% (13,363 fully vaccinated)
— 10.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 443 (117 total deaths)
— 46.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,337 (7,753 total cases)
— 4.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Estill County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.7% (7,148 fully vaccinated)
— 9.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 291 (41 total deaths)
— 3.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,676 (3,904 total cases)
— 1.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Jim.henderson // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Hopkins County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.9% (22,735 fully vaccinated)
— 9.4% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 530 (237 total deaths)
— 75.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,970 (14,286 total cases)
— 14.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Leslie County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.1% (5,047 fully vaccinated)
— 9.1% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 395 (39 total deaths)
— 30.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,434 (3,401 total cases)
— 23.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Turover // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Greenup County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.2% (17,985 fully vaccinated)
— 8.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 336 (118 total deaths)
— 11.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,805 (11,514 total cases)
— 17.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Chris Light // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Nelson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.2% (23,656 fully vaccinated)
— 8.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 286 (132 total deaths)
— 5.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,521 (14,111 total cases)
— 9.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

C. Bedford Crenshaw // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Caldwell County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.4% (6,547 fully vaccinated)
— 8.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 455 (58 total deaths)
— 50.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,250 (3,856 total cases)
— 8.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Powell County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.6% (6,381 fully vaccinated)
— 8.2% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 267 (33 total deaths)
— 11.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,807 (4,549 total cases)
— 31.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Breathitt County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.9% (6,554 fully vaccinated)
— 7.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 396 (50 total deaths)
— 31.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,302 (3,322 total cases)
— 5.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Pike County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.2% (30,195 fully vaccinated)
— 7.1% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 418 (242 total deaths)
— 38.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,200 (16,900 total cases)
— 4.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Letcher County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.4% (11,291 fully vaccinated)
— 6.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 418 (90 total deaths)
— 38.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,852 (6,434 total cases)
— 6.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Nicholas County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (3,813 fully vaccinated)
— 6.6% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 399 (29 total deaths)
— 32.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,983 (1,816 total cases)
— 10.7% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Wolfe County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.8% (3,779 fully vaccinated)
— 6.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 252 (18 total deaths)
— 16.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,502 (2,183 total cases)
— 9.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Henry County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.9% (8,532 fully vaccinated)
— 5.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 285 (46 total deaths)
— 5.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,997 (4,676 total cases)
— 3.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Marshall County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.9% (16,443 fully vaccinated)
— 5.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 299 (93 total deaths)
— 1.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,399 (8,210 total cases)
— 5.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Jessamine County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.9% (28,626 fully vaccinated)
— 5.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 231 (125 total deaths)
— 23.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,177 (14,707 total cases)
— 2.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Bath County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.0% (6,619 fully vaccinated)
— 5.7% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 296 (37 total deaths)
— 2.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,456 (2,682 total cases)
— 23.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Farragutful // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Daviess County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.3% (54,143 fully vaccinated)
— 5.2% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 349 (354 total deaths)
— 15.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,933 (30,385 total cases)
— 7.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Martin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.4% (5,977 fully vaccinated)
— 5.0% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 393 (44 total deaths)
— 30.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,343 (3,061 total cases)
— 2.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Mercer County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.5% (11,735 fully vaccinated)
— 4.8% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 451 (99 total deaths)
— 49.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,490 (7,126 total cases)
— 16.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Clark County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.7% (19,476 fully vaccinated)
— 4.4% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 141 (51 total deaths)
— 53.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,250 (9,519 total cases)
— 6.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Anderson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.4% (12,384 fully vaccinated)
— 3.2% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 264 (60 total deaths)
— 12.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,324 (5,988 total cases)
— 5.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Scott County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.8% (31,238 fully vaccinated)
— 2.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 156 (89 total deaths)
— 48.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,903 (15,336 total cases)
— 3.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#17. McCracken County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.8% (35,859 fully vaccinated)
— 2.5% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 333 (218 total deaths)
— 10.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,737 (17,491 total cases)
— 4.4% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Boyle County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.7% (16,749 fully vaccinated)
— 0.9% lower vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 399 (120 total deaths)
— 32.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,139 (8,158 total cases)
— 2.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Floyd County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.3% (20,035 fully vaccinated)
— 0.2% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 441 (157 total deaths)
— 46.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,991 (11,741 total cases)
— 18.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Oldham County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.7% (37,844 fully vaccinated)
— 0.9% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 186 (124 total deaths)
— 38.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,473 (17,684 total cases)
— 5.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Bourbon County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.0% (11,280 fully vaccinated)
— 1.4% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 248 (49 total deaths)
— 17.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,098 (5,758 total cases)
— 4.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Fulton County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.6% (3,441 fully vaccinated)
— 2.5% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 385 (23 total deaths)
— 27.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,048 (1,137 total cases)
— 31.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Lyon County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.7% (4,739 fully vaccinated)
— 2.7% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 402 (33 total deaths)
— 33.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,289 (2,733 total cases)
— 19.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Ryan Emmick // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Hancock County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.1% (5,066 fully vaccinated)
— 3.4% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 229 (20 total deaths)
— 24.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,608 (2,408 total cases)
— 1.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Kenton County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.3% (99,037 fully vaccinated)
— 5.5% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 217 (363 total deaths)
— 28.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,004 (40,086 total cases)
— 14.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Franklin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.4% (30,818 fully vaccinated)
— 7.5% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 255 (130 total deaths)
— 15.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,014 (12,755 total cases)
— 10.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Perry County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.1% (15,744 fully vaccinated)
— 8.7% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 555 (143 total deaths)
— 83.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,775 (9,730 total cases)
— 35.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Boone County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.1% (81,635 fully vaccinated)
— 8.7% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 195 (260 total deaths)
— 35.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,591 (35,520 total cases)
— 4.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Hardin County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.6% (68,319 fully vaccinated)
— 9.6% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 355 (394 total deaths)
— 17.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,650 (31,789 total cases)
— 2.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Rdikeman // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Campbell County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.1% (58,090 fully vaccinated)
— 10.5% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 158 (148 total deaths)
— 47.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,385 (21,885 total cases)
— 16.4% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Chris Watson // Wikicommons

#3. Jefferson County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.8% (481,653 fully vaccinated)
— 11.7% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 259 (1,988 total deaths)
— 14.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,033 (214,945 total cases)
— 0.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Woodford County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.2% (17,438 fully vaccinated)
— 16.0% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 157 (42 total deaths)
— 48.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,549 (6,563 total cases)
— 12.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Fayette County

– Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.2% (210,750 fully vaccinated)
— 16.0% higher vaccination rate than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 166 (538 total deaths)
— 45.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,065 (90,694 total cases)
— 0.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky