Health Department Seeks Nominations for Public Health Heroes

It is time to nominate people for the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department Public Health Heroes Award. The award, now in its eighth year, is for individuals who have demonstrated their dedication to improving the health of Lexington residents.

Criteria for the selection of the Public Health Heroes 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 and would not have occurred without the activities of the nominee.

Past winners include 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, 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.

Nominations can be submitted to Kevin Hall via e-mail at KevinS.Hall@ky.gov, fax at 859.288-2359 or through the mail to Kevin Hall, Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, 650 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40508.

Please include your name and contact information.

The deadline for submitting candidates is 4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 23.

The Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health will make the final determination, and 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 Awareness Week.

Health Department lowers cost of flu shots

Starting Thursday, Jan. 13, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is reducing the cost of a flu shot to $20 at its two public health clinics, 805A Newtown Circle and 2433 Regency Road. Appointments are not necessary, and Medicaid, Medicare B, cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.

The Public Health Clinic North at 805A Newtown Circle is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday; and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday. The Public Health Clinic South at 2433 Regency Road is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday; and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday.

Fayette County currently has 88 confirmed cases of the flu, including 38 cases in children. A flu shot is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older.

“Flu activity is now widespread throughout Kentucky, and we want as many as people as possible to get a flu vaccine this winter,” said health department spokesman Kevin Hall. “The health department has given out about 7,000 flu vaccines already this season, and we still have plenty more shots available.”

For additional information, find the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department on Facebook, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/LFCHD, call the flu hotline at 288-7529 or visit www.lexflucrew.com.

Weather Schedule Change: Smoking Cessation Class

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department’s smoking cessation class scheduled to begin this evening, January 11, has been moved to next week because of the weather.

The 12-week class will now be held 5:30-6:30 p.m. starting Jan. 18 at the Public Health Clinic North, 805A Newtown Circle.

For more information, call 288-2423.