COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Expands in Alaska on February 11

Starting Thursday, February 11, the State of Alaska Vaccine Task Force is expanding eligibility requirements, allowing more Alaskans to make appointments to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Anyone who was previously eligible to schedule an appointment remains eligible:

• those 65 years of age and older,
• long term care facility staff and residents,
• hospital-based frontline healthcare workers and hospital personnel,
• frontline EMS and Fire Service personnel providing medical services,
• community health aids/practitioners,
• healthcare workers providing COVID-19 vaccines,
• and healthcare workers who have direct human patient contact and provide an essential service that cannot be postponed or offered remotely.

As of February 11, the following will also be eligible:

• People 50 years of age or older who have high risk medical conditions including cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, Down Syndrome, heart conditions, obesity, sickle cell disease, smoking, type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, or immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant,
• frontline essential workers age 50 years or older who work within 6 feet of others,
• education staff that are childcare workers and support staff, Pre K-12 educators or support staff, or indigenous language and culture bearers,
• people living or working in congregate settings including acute psychiatric facilities, correctional settings, group homes for individuals with disabilities or mental and behavioral health conditions, homeless and domestic violence shelters, substance misuse and treatment residential facilities, and transitional living homes,
• and pandemic response staff who may come into contact with the virus during outbreak response activities.

For more detailed information about elibigility and information on how to make an appointment, visit the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services’ COVID-19 Vaccine Status Update page.