Vaccine Information
Effective Monday, January 11, YKHC is again able to expand who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in the YK Delta.
In Bethel, all persons age 50 and older, regardless of health conditions, and all residents of congregate shelters will be eligible for vaccination. Congregate shelters include TWC, Winter House, YKCC, Tundra Center, and substance misuse treatment centers.
In villages, all individuals age 16 and older will be eligible for vaccination.
To request a vaccination appointment, regardless of whether you live in Bethel or a village, please submit a vaccine application online. If you have difficulty with the button below, copy and paste the following address into your web browser: https://tinyurl.com/y7reeyst.
If you know someone who does not have access to the internet to submit an online vaccine application, please contact your local village clinic for assistance or your local tribal office for a phone number to contact YKHC for assistance. If you are an individual in Bethel that needs assistance with the online form, please call the COVID-19 hotline at 543-6949. The hotline is staffed Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voicemails will be returned within 3 business days.
Please keep in mind, completion of this form does not automatically schedule an appointment. It is possible an appointment may not be scheduled for a few weeks, as YKHC schedules appointments based on state and federal guidelines and vaccine availability.
As YKHC awaits additional information from state and federal partners about our January vaccine allocation, we continue to prepare for expanded COVID-19 by identifying individuals in the region who would like to be vaccinated when they become eligible and enough vaccine is available. All YK Delta residents (age 16 and older), regardless of whether you live in Bethel, a village, and whether you are currently eligible for vaccination, are encouraged to submit a COVID-19 vaccine application.
As a reminder, due to global demand, complex storage and distribution logistics, and early supply constraints as vaccine production ramps up, the COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed in four phases (phase 1A, 1B, 1C, and 2). The current phase is dependent on guidance provided by state and federal agencies, as well as how much vaccine YKHC receives from these partners. YKHC continues vaccinating phases 1A and 1B, in addition to the newly expanded categories above.
When will I qualify for vaccination?
The current phase of vaccine distribution is highly dependent on how much vaccine YKHC receives from federal and state partners, which we do not know and cannot predict at this time.
PHASE 1A
- Frontline healthcare workers
- Long-term care and assisted living residents
- Community health aides and practitioners
- First responders
PHASE 1B
- Elders (adults 65+)
- Frontline essential workers
This definition could change, pending finalization by the State of Alaska.
4,000 initial vaccine doses already received by YKHC are devoted to Phases 1A and 1B.
PHASE 1C
- Individuals age 16-64 with chronic health conditions
This definition could change, pending finalization by the State of Alaska.
PHASE 2
- The general public
This definition could change, pending finalization by the State of Alaska.
Vaccine News
YKHC expands eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations, recommends extended regionwide lockdown
YKHC expands eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinationsEffective Tuesday, January 19, YKHC is again expanding who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in the YK Delta. In Bethel
YKHC preparing for and expanding COVID-19 vaccinations in YK Delta
Effective Monday, January 11, YKHC is again able to expand who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in the YK Delta. In Bethel, all persons age
Update on COVID-19 Vaccination in the YK Delta
In mid-December, YKHC received just over 4,000 initial and individual doses of both Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. These vaccine doses came from two different
COVID-19 Vaccine Information Update 12/15/20
12/15 Vaccine Info Session A recording of the COVID-19 Vaccine Information Session with YKHC Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges. Recorded 12/15/20. https://ykhc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/121520-covid19-vaccine-info-session.mp4
Vaccination FAQs
What are the side effects of the vaccine?
The most common side effects people reported are soreness at the injection site, fever, fatigue and muscle aches. These typically resolve after about 48 hours, are signs your body is learning to fight COVID-19, and can be treated with ibuprofen or Tylenol.
What are the risks of a serious allergic reaction to the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
The risk of a serious allergic reaction is very low, but YKHC
health providers will monitor individuals for 20 minutes following vaccination, to ensure timely care is provided under the extremely rare circumstance of an allergic reaction.
What is the effectiveness of the vaccine?
Early research suggests both COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna, currently being used in the YK Delta, are over 94% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection.
Will I still have to wear a mask when I am fully
vaccinated?
Yes. Masks and avoiding close contact with others are simple and effective tools to prevent the spread of this highly contagious virus. Experts need more information about the protection ofthe vaccines, many more people need to be vaccinated, and understanding how the virus spreads in communities amidst these conditions would be needed in order to reconsider recommendations about masks.
Will I have to quarantine after I am fully vaccinated?
Yes, you will still have to comply with all state and local guidelines for quarantine. At this time the CDC and State of Alaska are not planning on changing quarantine requirements.
Can people still spread COVID-19 after they have been vaccinated?
We are not sure whether you can still spread COVID-19 after vaccination, so it is important to comply with all of the public health measures that we know work to decrease the spread ofCOVID-19: wear a mask, remain physically distant from anyone who does not reside in your household, and wash your hands frequently.
Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?
No, because there are no viral parts in the vaccine. mRNA vaccines do not use the live virus that causes COVID-19. The vaccine only contains instructions on how to recognize the virus and attack it.
Have there been many studies done on these
vaccines?
Yes. The FDA requires rigorous testing and safety information for each vaccine. These were tested on tens of thousands of people.
How was the vaccine created and distributed so quickly (in less than one year)?
Scientists have been studying mRNA vaccine development, the same technology used for the COVID-19 vaccines, for over a decade – following other similar respiratory viral outbreaks. Additionally, the federal government invested resources that allowed the scientific community to proceed with traditional vaccine research and development steps happening at the same time, while ensuring no safety steps were eliminated. For example, pharmaceutical companies began manufacturing vaccines at industrial scale, while work to demonstrate efficacy and safety continued. This removed financial risk to the medical community without sacrificing vaccine safety.
Resource:
https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/explaining-operationwarp-
speed/index.html
Is it safe to get the vaccine?
Yes. The companies making the leading vaccines have taken the unusual step of releasing their study for public review to ensure transparency. For both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, thousands of participants have passed the two-month window and neither vaccine has prompted serious or concerning adverse effects.
When will I get the vaccine?
Due to global demand, complex storage and distribution logistics,
and early supply constraints as vaccine production ramps up, the vaccine is being prioritized and given in four phases (phase 1A, 1B, 1C, and 2). Federal and state governments are requiring early distribution go to the most vulnerable people in the population. Health care workers, first responders, elders, and frontline essential workers will be among the first to receive a vaccination. Stay connected with YKHC via our website and Facebook to learn when you may be eligible.
Should I get the vaccine if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers be given the vaccine if desired. There have been no reported adverse effects in pregnancies in women after they received the vaccine.
Where can I learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine?
YKHC recommends using trusted sources of information to gather more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and State of Alaska.
Resource:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/ index.html
Resource:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/epi/id/pages/COVID-19/ vaccine.aspx