State health officials say they are concerned that part of the reason for the surplus of incomplete appointments was that many newly qualified Alaskans did not realize they could get a chance now.
“I worked at (the emergency department) this weekend and asked patients if they were being vaccinated,” said Dr. Anne Zink, chief medical officer of the state, said. “And so many people just did not know that they were eligible and that it was their turn to be vaccinated.”
Apart from making vaccine available to anyone in the state aged 55 and over, the state last week expanded the criteria for admission to essential workers aged 16 and over, whether they are working in contact with each other or with the public. .
This list includes: people working in mortuary services, restaurant workers, food delivery workers, farmers, energy workers, bus drivers, postal workers, clergy, weather forecasters and laundry workers all qualify, to name just a few.
“I think our main message that we want to reach out to Alaskans this week is to just make sure people know that we’re eligible since last week is pretty significantly open,” said Tessa Walker Linderman, a co-leader with the Alaska Vaccine Task Force, said, during a call with members of the media.
“I encourage all Alaskans who work to just look at the document because there are so many workers being taken up as essential workers,” she said.
Last week, the state also expanded who is eligible for vaccination, and also anyone who has a medical condition like the CDC or says the person’s healthcare provider could puts them at a higher risk for serious COVID-19 diseases.
No doctor’s letter is needed to get a chance, but health officials ask that you at least talk to your doctor to see if you qualify.
The CDC’s list includes those who may be at risk, as well as those who certainly do. This means: Alaskans with asthma, cystic fibrosis, an BMI that categorizes someone as “overweight” or high blood pressure, are now eligible.
Also eligible for a chance at the moment: anyone living in a multigenerational household, or a community with limited plumbing; anyone who enrolls a parent to be vaccinated (make sure you make an appointment for each of you); anyone who provides daily support to a “medically fragile” person; and anyone who interacts with people in a congregational setting as part of their work.
“This is a very large and broad group, and I said that if you think you might qualify, you’ll probably do it,” Walker Linderman said. She was not sure about the exact number of Alaskans eligible now, but “there are definitely enough people who can fill the appointments if they know they can sign up,” she said.
You can also call 907-646-3322 to sign up and be eligible. The telephone line is manned on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:30 and on weekends from 09:00 to 16:30.
“We will encourage anyone who is interested in vaccination at all, if they are curious, just call our number,” Zink said. “We will tell you if you are eligible and at the same time even plan an appointment for you.”