Southcentral Foundation announced Monday that it has begun offering COVID-19 vaccinations at the Anchorage Vaccine Clinic to Alaskans 40 and older, plus child care workers and K-12 educators.
April Kyle, president and CEO of the foundation, said in an email to the foundation’s staff on Monday morning that the decision to extend the admission was based on a “careful investigation” of the vaccination in March. .
Eligible Alaskans can visit vax.nuka.com to sign up for a place. According to Kyle’s email, appointments will be restricted to ensure the vaccine is available to ‘customer owners’, the foundation’s beneficiaries.
“It’s exciting to be a part of the vaccine’s success through Alaska by providing more vaccination to the community, while ensuring that all customer owners and their households remain eligible for the vaccine,” Kyle said.
The amount of appointments that SCF will provide daily is likely to vary according to demand, and the slots will still be reserved for customer owners and their household members, said Dr. Bob Onders, administrator of the Alaska Native Medical Center, said during a call with reporters. Monday.
“There are about a thousand appointments a day that will be delivered,” he said. “Some days there may be more, and it will vary from day to day,” he said.
The announcement comes on the heels of news from the state that he will receive more than 70% more doses of COVID-19 vaccine than in February. Dr Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, said last week that the increase in expected doses of vaccines was due to increased vaccine production.
The 103,120 first doses of vaccine to arrive in Alaska in March include 36,290 doses granted by the Indian Health Service for Alaska’s 229 sovereign tribes and 66,830 doses granted by the federal government to the entire state.
According to the state’s general guidelines for vaccination, those currently able to receive the vaccine in Alaska include: most healthcare professionals with direct patient contact, the elderly, those helping the elderly get a chance, educators and their support staff. , Alaskans 50 and older with a high-risk medical condition, essential workers 50 and older working in close proximity to others, and people living or working in a community setting.
However, Southcentral Foundation is a health care organization owned by Alaska Native, which means that it receives its grant from the Indian Health Service and can decide to be eligible for the vaccine, regardless of the levels of the state.
Alaska has so far vaccinated more residents per capita than any other state, mainly because of its robust tribal health system that has been able to vaccinate large sections of the population quickly and efficiently.
In many small communities – including Sitka and most towns – Alaskan over the age of 16 could get a chance.
SCF “has already offered vaccinations to groups including teachers, Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Officers, McLaughlin Youth Center employees, people who are locked up and people who are homeless,” the organization said in its announcement.
This is an evolving story. Check back for updates.