COVID-19 Update Issued Dec. 17

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2021) — University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto issued an update to the campus community about the university's response to COVID-19 on the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 17. You can read that message below. 

Dear Campus Community, 

Today, I have the distinct honor and privilege of addressing our December 2021 graduates at Commencement. These ceremonies celebrate the core of our mission — preparing students for lives of meaning and purpose. 

Indeed, we have much to celebrate. 

Our community united this semester to achieve a lofty but essential goal: reaching a 90% vaccination rate. In fact, we have exceeded that target, with 90.2% of our population either partially or fully vaccinated. You can see a further breakdown of these data below. I extend my deepest gratitude to those who made the decision to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. 

• 97% of faculty 
• 93% of staff
• 87% of students 
• 89% of the UK campus 
• 93% of UK HealthCare

COVID-19 Boosters

As we approach the holiday season, I encourage you, if you have not already, to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The science is clear: boosters provide a higher level of defense against this virus. We have made signing up for a booster convenient, easy and free. Consider getting yours before the semester concludes. 

All fully vaccinated adults, 18 and older, living or working in Kentucky who are at least six months past their second dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or at least two months past their single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible to receive a booster. I encourage you to schedule one before the holidays if you are eligible. Learn more here.

Go to ukvaccine.org to sign up for an appointment. This sign-up process is the same one we used last academic year for our vaccine clinics.

If you receive your booster from a non-UK provider, please upload proof of your documentation here.

Flu Shots

You still have time to get your flu shot before the holiday break. Experts expect that the flu will be particularly harsh this season. As such, and as our health care system continues to respond to the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to receive your flu shot. You can learn more about locations where flu vaccines are available here. 

Thank you for everything you are doing to keep our community safe.

Eli Capilouto

President